Beech C23 accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, April 20, 2008
On April 20, 2008 at about 1:00 am local time, a Beech C23, registered N23845, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
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 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N23845 · no longer on the register · serial M-1997
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 170-hour student pilot was performing closed traffic pattern practice takeoff and landing procedures. The student stated that he had performed 8 successful touch and go landings without incident. The next landing was intended to be a full stop landing. He stated that he flared and attempted to keep the airplane off the runway to slow his airspeed, then reduced power too quickly and the airplane touched down hard and bounced. The student pilot then "forced the nose forward" and touched down hard on the nose gear. The aircraft slid to a stop and remained on the runway. The aircraft was substantially damaged when the nose gear collapsed and both propeller blades struck the runway. The pilot, sole occupant, was not injured and was able to egress unassisted. Weather at the airport approximately 10 minutes prior to the landing was, wind 270 degrees at 16 knots, temperature 22 degrees Celsius and dew point 18 degrees Celsius.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Student pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,274 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSAF Santa Fe NM
- Destination: KSAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.