Beech C23 accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, February 12, 2026
On February 12, 2026 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1976 Beech C23, registered N1988L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Downtown Island 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2026 · about 6:15 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23, built 1976 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N1988L · registry record · serial M-1842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she was conducting traffic pattern work following the completion of the airplane’s annual inspection. During landing, as the nose wheel touched down, the airplane veered abruptly to the left. She attempted to maintain directional control with the rudder pedals, but the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway and impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 375.6 hours in all; 371.6 in this make and model; 0.4 in the last 90 days; 0.4 in the last 30 days; 228.1 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 17, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,154.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 2026; 0.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 3,154 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 08, 3,499 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from DKX
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDKX 121735Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/M04 A3026
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N1988L
Photograph 2 – left wing substantial damage
Photograph 3 – left side firewall substantial damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement Nose Landing Gear Inspection | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1988L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft C23 Sundowner 456 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Knoxville Downtown Island Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,535 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA128.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.