Beech 23 accident near Denison, Iowa, December 6, 1993
On December 6, 1993 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N6959Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denison, Iowa (Denison Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT HANDLING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1993 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Denison, Iowa · Denison Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N6959Q · no longer on the register · serial M1090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD PREARRANGED WITH THE PRIVATE PILOT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THEIR HOME BASE. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND CONTINUED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE IT CAME TO REST. THE PRIVATE PILOT OCCUPIED THE RIGHT SEAT, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON THE CONTROLS WITH HIM. THE STUDENT PILOT INDICATED WHEN HE REACHED DOWN TO RETRACT FLAPS, THE PRIVATE PILOT TOOK THE CONTROLS, BANKED LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT ON THE CONTROLS. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED 19.2 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, WITH NO EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OR CLAIM OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 603 hours in all; 567 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SDA Shenandoah IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.