Beech C23 accident near Long Beach, California, June 19, 2015
On June 19, 2015 at about 4:07 am local time, a 1977 Beech C23, registered N24022, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Long Beach, California (Long Beach /Daugherty Field/). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot failed to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering to land at night, which resulted in a collision with terrain/objects. A factor contributing to the accident was the lack of oversight by ATC; failing to insure that the fully operational VASI was turned on during the hours of darkness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2015 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 NO SERIES, built 1977 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N24022 · no longer on the register · serial M-1927
- 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 while on final approach for runway 25R during night conditions, the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) was not operational. The pilot stated that he was "too low" during the approach, so he applied full power in an attempt to go-around. The airplane impacted the top of trees about 530 feet east of the runway and then impacted the airport perimeter fence about 380 feet east of the runway. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- factor Organizational issues › Management › Communication (organizational) › Within group(s)/organization › ATC
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- cause Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › ATC
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,427 hours in all; 1,376 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 8.5 in the last 30 days; 1,291 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 24, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,641 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 4, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,459 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 4,640 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AJO Corona CA at 3:00 am
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 25R, 6,191 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 4:14 am from KLGB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 4, 2015. 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 | Photo 1-VIEW of Substantial Damage to the Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of Airport Operations) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.