Beech C-23 accident near Gary, Indiana, June 4, 1994
On June 4, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N18893, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gary, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DELAY IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gary, Indiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N18893 · no longer on the register · serial M-1962
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING A DOWNWIND LEG IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT TURN ONTO FINAL APPROACH UNTIL AFTER AN AIRPLANE ON FINAL APPROACH HAD PASSED BY HIM. THE PILOT SAID HE DECIDED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING BECAUSE HE WAS TOO FAR FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A BARBED WIRE FENCE BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED WITH ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT WING TANK AND FIVE TO SEVEN GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT TANKS. THERE WAS NO FUEL ODOR FOUND AROUND THE AIRPLANE OR THE FENCING STRUCK BY THE AIRPLANE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,460 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from GYY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.