Beech C23 accident near Searcy, Arkansas, April 15, 1993
On April 15, 1993 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N2150W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas (Searcy Municipal airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FOR A BOUNCED LANDING. THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1993 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Searcy, Arkansas · Searcy Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N2150W · no longer on the register · serial M-1576
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 FAILED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING CROSSWIND RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ABORT THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ASSUMING AN EXAGGERATED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AFTER HE BECAME AIRBORNE. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE LEFT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM 225 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'AN EXTREME 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND GUST WAS BLOWING THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 32 in the last 90 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,546 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1992; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coastal Carolina Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Oklahoma City OK at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from LRF, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.