Beech C24R accident near Augustine, Florida, September 13, 2021
On September 13, 2021 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 1978 Beech C24R, registered N5246M, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Augustine, Florida (Northeast Florida Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improperly installed fuel injection system components, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2021 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Augustine, Florida · Northeast Florida Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R, built 1978 · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5246M · registry record · serial MC-564
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The chief flight instructor of the flight school was performing a checkout flight for two other flight instructors, one of whom was in the front right seat and conducted the short-field takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off in about 2,000 ft, leaving about 6,000 ft of runway remaining. Shortly after liftoff, the airplane failed to maintain airspeed or altitude upon reaching an altitude of about 150 ft above ground level. The chief flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to land on the remaining runway; however, the airplane struck the approach lighting system, flipped over, and came to rest inverted in a marsh. Examination of the engine revealed that two fuel injector lines were not installed properly: one contained a damaged nut and was pulled off the injector with ease, and the other was secured by only one thread. In addition, the oil filter screen was contaminated with large pieces of carbon and metal. These discrepancies should have been detected and addressed during the previous annual/100-hour inspections that occurred 5 flight hours before the accident flight. Based on this information, it is likely that condition of one or both of the fuel injector components allowed air to be introduced into the fuel stream for their respective cylinders, thus reducing the engine performance and resulting in a partial loss of power during the initial climb.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,100 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 24, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,510.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2021; 5.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 5,386 hours total
- Operator: Florida Aviation Career Training INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 7,997 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from SGJ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSGJ 131456Z 05008KT 10SM BKN015 28/23 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP230 T02830228 53001 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA21LA361.