Beech 23 accident near Rogersville, Tennessee, March 3, 2021
On March 3, 2021 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 1963 Beech 23, registered N2374J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Rogersville, Tennessee (Hawkins County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in an initial hard landing, separation of the left main landing gear, and a runway excursion during a subsequent landing attempt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 2021 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rogersville, Tennessee · Hawkins County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23, built 1963 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2374J · no longer on the register · serial M-338
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land the airplane and reported that after a hard landing the left main landing gear fractured and then separated from the airplane. The pilot then aborted the landing. He then attempted to land the airplane again by keeping the left wing in the air as long as possible. As the airplane slowed, and the control authority of the ailerons decreased, the airplane veered left into the grass of the left side of the runway. During the runway excursion, the fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 172 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,286 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 590 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 3,502 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TRI, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTRI 031953Z 30007KT 10SM CLR 14/M07 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP157 T01441072
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 16, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airport Manager Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Video File | MOV file | Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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.