Beech C24R accident near Tucson, Arizona, April 1, 1989
On April 1, 1989 at about 3:37 pm local time, a Beech C24R, registered N23972, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Fld. airport). 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
PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING. THE PILOT BEGAN HIS FLARE TOO HIGH ABOVE THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1989 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N23972 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A BEECH C24R LANDED HARD ON RUNWAY 06 AT RYN, TUCSON, AZ. THE NOSE AND MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID OFF OF THE RUNWAY. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 06. HE WAS ON ABOUT HIS EIGHTH LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE BEGAN HIS FLARE FOR LANDING TOO HIGH, ABOUT TEN FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE DROPPED IN HARD ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED FIRST, THEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, ON ITS BELLY, INTO THE DIRT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.