Beech BE-23 accident near Sanford, Florida, August 11, 2009
On August 11, 2009 at about 12:19 pm local time, a Beech BE-23, registered N9261S, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford International 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 directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2009 · about 12:19 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-23
- Registration
- N9261S · no longer on the register · serial M-1754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to several witnesses, the pilot was performing touch-and-go landings on the 6,647-foot by 75-foot runway. The airplane had landed, and was beginning another takeoff roll when the accident occurred. A student pilot was seated in the left seat. The private pilot, seated in the right seat, reported that just after liftoff a gust of wind caused a loss of directional control. The airplane subsequently contacted the runway surface and veered off the right side of the runway surface. The private pilot reported that there were no known mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident, and that he had approximately 80 total hours of flight experience. A weather observation taken at the airport immediately after the accident included a wind speed of zero knots.
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 takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience in position › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 19, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,611 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 2008; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Sanford FL at 12:20 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09R, 6,647 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:32 pm from SFB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.