Beech A23-24 accident near Venice, Florida, January 12, 2011
On January 12, 2011 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech A23-24, registered N3670Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Venice, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2011 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-24 · all A23-24s on the register
- Registration
- N3670Q · no longer on the register · serial MA-257
- 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 during climbout the engine suddenly lost power. An engine restart was attempted but was unsuccessful. The pilot realized he could not make it back to the airport and ditched the airplane into the ocean. According to the pilot, the airplane had 3.5 hours of fuel onboard at the time of departure, and residual fuel was observed in the fuel injector. A postaccident examination of the airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the engine revealed that it was exposed to salt water with a corresponding degree of corrosion. A review of the engine maintenance records revealed that the engine was previously overhauled in the field 13 years prior to the accident. The engine manufacturer recommended the engine be overhauled after the accumulation of 2,000 hours or in the 12th year, whichever occurred first. Despite the corrosion damage and delayed overhaul, a complete examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Ditching during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 5, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 2010; 793 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNC Venice FL at 9:49 pm
- Destination: ISM Kissimmee FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SRQ, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on October 31, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-aircraft Logbook Pages | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-engine Logbook Pages | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation-lycoming Field Examination Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-lycoming Sevice Instruction SI1009AU | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 1-FORWARD View of Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 2-FORWARD View of Airplane in the Water | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 3-RIGHTSIDE View of Airplane in the Water | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 4-LEFTSIDE View of Airplane in Water | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Revisions to Factual - 10/12/12 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.