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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2026 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 ERA26LA128.