Beech A23 accident near Greene, New York, May 21, 2011
On May 21, 2011 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N3548R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Greene, New York (Greene Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to continue a visual approach with low visibility and in heavy rain and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2011 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Greene, New York · Greene Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N3548R · no longer on the register · serial M-715
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while attempting to land in heavy rain and with low visibility, the airplane collided with trees to the right side of the runway before descending and impacting the runway. The collision damaged the left wing, collapsed the landing gear, and substantially damaged the engine firewall. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident. Although the nearest weather observation facility reported no precipitation and 10-mile visibility, it was located 28 miles from the accident location.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,698 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,573 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2011; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-346 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4N7 Greene NY at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 4N7 Greene NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 2,665 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from BGM, 25 miles away
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.