Beechcraft C23 accident near Wilmington, Delaware, February 25, 2002
On February 25, 2002 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Beechcraft C23, registered N2192W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, Delaware (New Castle County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's improper fuel management which resulted in fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was the flight instructor's failure to follow the published checklist procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2002 · about 11:55 pm local time · cases in 2002
- Place
- Wilmington, Delaware · New Castle County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N2192W · registry record · serial M1564
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and private pilot were returning to their home airport after a 1.9 hour instructional flight. On final approach, the engine stopped producing power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and landed on an embankment short of the runway. According to a police officer, who arrived on the scene an hour after the accident, the left fuel tank was found empty, and the fuel selector valve was found positioned to the left tank. The tank was not breached and there were no signs of leakage. However, fuel was observed in the right fuel tank. When the fuel selector valve was positioned to the right fuel tank, fuel flowed freely from the fuel strainer fuel line. Eighteen gallons of fuel were then drained from the right fuel tank. According to the Beechcraft Sundowner C23 Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), the fuel selector handle was located on the floorboards between the pilot and copilot seats. According to the published before landing checklist, item 2 stated: "Fuel Selector Valve-SELECT TANK MORE NEARLY FULL (feel for detent and check visually)." No mechanical deficiencies were noted with the engine, or fuel system.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 471 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,623.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 2001; 100.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILG Wilmington DE at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 7,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from ILG
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2192W on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft C23 Sundowner 456 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-360 1,068 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- New Castle Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Delaware 116 since 1982 · 16 in the last ten years
- Delaware 10,970 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/IAD02LA035.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.