Beech BE-76 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, October 31, 2000
On October 31, 2000, a Beech BE-76, registered N23823, was destroyed in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Richard Lloyd Jones JR airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the instructor pilot's failure to maintain the airplane's minimum controllable airspeed during a single-engine go-around, which resulted in his loss of control of the airplane. Contributory factors were the engine fire, the pilot's failure to follow the emergency checklist and feather the propeller, and the partial failure of the landing gear indicating system, which resulted in the instructor's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2000
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Richard Lloyd Jones JR
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-76
- Registration
- N23823 · no longer on the register · serial ME-11
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor reported a right engine fire and requested a straight-in approach for a northbound runway. The wind at the time of the accident was from the south-southeast at 8 knots. At the time the pilot reported the engine fire to air traffic control, the aircraft was positioned approximately 4 miles north of another airport, and approximately 18 miles south of the pilot's intended landing airport. Numerous witnesses, located at the airport, stated that they observed the airplane flying fast on approach. The pilot reported to air traffic control that "the gear [was] not operating" and that he had to go-around. He added that "one of the lights [was] not coming on." The air traffic controller informed the pilot that the landing gear appeared to be down and cleared him to land on either runway at his discretion. The pilot stated that he was going to land on the opposite runway from his initial approach. The controllers and witnesses reported that the airplane initiated a climb, slowed, then started to roll over to the right and pitch nose down. The airplane impacted the ground and a fire erupted upon impact. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right propeller was not feathered and the landing gear were extended; however, the right main landing gear indicator light filament was found separated. The cause of the engine fire was not determined. According to the aircraft Pilot Operating Handbook, in the case of an engine fire in-flight, the pilot is to feather the affected engine's propeller and "land immediately." In addition, the instructions for a single-engine go-around require that the pilot retract the landing gear.
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
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: 1,398 hours in all; 877 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 2000; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVS at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1L, 5,101 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 151°F (66°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.