Beech C23 accident near Terlingua, Texas, August 2, 1997
On August 2, 1997 at about 11:22 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N2146W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terlingua, Texas (Terlingua Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent stall by the pilot-in-command. A factor was the sudden wind shift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1997 · about 11:22 pm local time
- Place
- Terlingua, Texas · Terlingua Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N2146W · no longer on the register · serial M-1521
- 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 he approached the airport mid-field from the east, flew over the wind sock, and interpreted the wind direction as originating from the southeast. The pilot reported that he turned the airplane northbound and executed a downwind for runway 17. The pilot stated that as the airplane turned from the base leg to final approach, he recognized that the airplane began to 'stall out.' He further stated that after the airplane began to stall he added full power; however, the airplane continued to 'stall and pancake to the ground.' Subsequently, the airplane impacted a chain link fence. The pilot reported that he observed the wind sock immediately after the accident, and the winds had changed, indicating winds originating from a northerly direction. Furthermore, the pilot stated that 5 minutes later he noticed that the winds were once again from the south. The pilot reported the weather conditions as 'moderate turbulence' and 'a lot of updrafts and downdrafts that day.'
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: 1,015 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 975 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,433 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1996; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F18 Cleburne TX at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.