Beech C23 accident near Bishop, Texas, May 9, 2006
On May 9, 2006, a Beech C23, registered N5021M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bishop, Texas (Bishop Municipal Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The delayed landing flare by the pilot which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2006
- Place
- Bishop, Texas · Bishop Municipal Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N5021M · no longer on the register · serial M-2048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner of the airplane reported a test flight was required due to the re-installation of the O-360-A4J engine following a major overhaul. The airplane was operated several times after the engine was installed and all the adjustments were made. The aircraft was topped off with a full load of fuel prior to the test flight. The owner of the airplane reported that he was the pilot-in-command of the flight; however, he was occupying the right front seat of the airplane. The left seat was being occupied by another pilot, who was also an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic who performed the engine overhauled and signed off the annual inspection. The mechanic also held an FAA inspection authorization (IA). On the day of the accident, after a complete engine run up and magneto check were completed, the airplane taxied for takeoff on Runway 15. The pilot added that the takeoff was normal and the airplane was indicating a rate of climb of 700 feet-per-minute while climbing at 70 knots indicated. The owner added that as the airplane approached the departure end, the pilot rolled into a 30 degree bank to the left while the airplane continued to climb. The owner added that the engine was "running well until it suddenly stopped." The owner further stated that the pilot was not reacting to the sudden loss of engine power so he said "I've got it," leveled the wings, and tried to keep the nose level and pancaked-in." The FAA inspector confirmed that the ground scars and the crushing damage sustained by the forward area of the fuselage were consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a pronounced nose-low attitude. The inspector was also able to confirm the presence of fuel aboard the airplane and he was also able to establish flight control continuity. The engine was found in the inverted position, buried under the nose of the airplane. The propeller was still attached to the engine and neither propeller blade had any leading edge damage or "S" bending. The owner of the airplane reported that the sudden loss of engine power was due to the failure of the engine driven fuel pump.
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
- Flight time: 682 hours in all; 481 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,749 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07R Bishop TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from KNQI, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N5021M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.