Beech A23-19 accident near Easton, Pennsylvania, July 4, 2013
On July 4, 2013 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1967 Beech A23-19, registered N4785J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Easton, Pennsylvania (Braden Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land with a tailwind condition and his lack of recent experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2013 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Easton, Pennsylvania · Braden Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-19, built 1967 · all A23-19s on the register
- Registration
- N4785J · no longer on the register · serial MB-232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had not flown for over two years prior to the accident flight. On the day of the accident, he took off and made two uneventful landings to runway 18. He then departed runway 36 and entered the airpark traffic pattern. The pilot reported his turn to final approach placed the airplane in position to land long and fast. He landed long on runway 36 and was unable to stop before the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane dropped six feet down a steep embankment, crossed a road, and came to rest about 70 feet past the departure end of runway 36. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. At the time of the accident, the wind in the area was reported from 210 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident 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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Capability exceeded
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 360 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N43 Easton PA
- Destination: N43 Easton PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,956 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from ABE, 10 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.