Beech C23 accident near Bingham, Maine, August 20, 2013
On August 20, 2013 at about 6:54 pm local time, a 1979 Beech C23, registered N243RG, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bingham, Maine (Gadabout Gaddis 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 inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his attempt to take off from a short, turf runway in high-density altitude conditions under which the airplane was unable to attain a positive climb rate to clear trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2013 · about 6:54 pm local time
- Place
- Bingham, Maine · Gadabout Gaddis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23, built 1979 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N243RG · no longer on the register · serial M-2150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had arrived at the departure airport earlier in the day. Witnesses, including the passenger, stated that it took multiple attempts for the pilot to land on the turf runway upon arrival; however, the pilot reported that "it was a non-event going in." The airplane subsequently took off from the 2,000-ft-long, turf-covered runway that had trees near its departure end. The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airspeed indicator did not appear to be working, so he "tapped it" with his fingers. He estimated that the airplane was traveling about 60 to 70 mph at that time. He pulled back on the control wheel, and, when the airplane reached about 20 ft above ground level, the stall warning activated. He then pushed forward on the control wheel to gain airspeed and turned the airplane slightly upriver. The right wing then contacted trees, and the airplane subsequently impacted the river nose first. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the temperature was about 80 degrees F, and the calculated density altitude was about 3,218 ft, which would have decreased the airplane's climb rate by about 30 percent. Further, according to the airplane flight manual, about 2,300 ft of turf runway would have been needed to clear a 50-ft obstacle. Therefore, due to the extended required ground roll and the degraded climb performance, the airplane was likely not able to attain a sufficient climb rate to clear the trees at the end of the runway.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during initial climb
- Loss of lift during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb 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 › Performance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,141 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,676 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 3,675 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ME08 Bingham ME at 6:54 pm
- Destination: AUG Augusta ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from GNR, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.