Beech C23 accident near Panacea, Florida, December 8, 2008
On December 8, 2008 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N60410, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Panacea, Florida (Wakulla County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to a failure of the mixture control cable housing attachment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2008 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Panacea, Florida · Wakulla County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N60410 · no longer on the register · serial M-2162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane away from some large trees with rudder and aileron and the airplane touched down near the edge of the runway. The nose gear struck a runway light and broke off. The airplane then spun around approximately 180 degrees before coming to rest, facing north. The underside of the fuselage sustained structural damage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported that the mixture control cable came loose at the cable housing crimp, resulting in the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Mixture control › Inoperative
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 194 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,001 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: N60410 LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PFN Panama City FL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 2J0 Panacea FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,950 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.