Beech C-23 accident near De Queen, Arkansas, April 20, 2008
On April 20, 2008 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N2049L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near De Queen, Arkansas (Sevier County airport). 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
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident were the crosswind and the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2008 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- De Queen, Arkansas · Sevier County · map
- 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
- N2049L · no longer on the register · serial M-1853
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure the pilot checked the weather conditions at his destination airport which included wind from 140 degrees at 8 to 10 knots, gusting 15 to 18 knots. He knew that he would encounter a crosswind since he intended to land on Runway 08. As the pilot made his final approach to the runway he prepared for a crosswind landing; however, as the airplane touched down, a gust of wind moved the airplane left of the runway centerline and over onto the grassy area next to the runway. The pilot attempted to abort the landing and applied full power, but the airplane stalled and slid on its belly into a fence. The airplane sustained damage to both main landing gears (which were torn off), the nose gear collapsed, the right side of the fuselage was torn open, and the leading edge of both wings sustained damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 256 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBF Pine Bluff AR
- Destination: DEQ De Queen AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.