Beech 23 accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, August 27, 2003
On August 27, 2003 at about 1:07 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2322Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida (Charlotte County 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2003 · about 1:07 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Charlotte County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2322Q · no longer on the register · serial M386
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated, he performed an engine run-up and had a normal takeoff. At about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The airplane clipped a tree during the forced landing. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated the pilot stated to him the engine failed at 200 to 300 feet above the ground and crashed landed in a field 1/2 mile off the departure end of runway 15, a published 4,743-foot-long runway. A witness, an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, stated that he heard a "poorly running engine" and observed the accident airplane flying south about 20 to 30 feet above the runway. At that point, there was more then 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The airplane continued flying past the runway and off the airport barely holding altitude. He saw the airplane suddenly climbed another 10 to 20 feet before it descended out of his view.
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: 770 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 670 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 29, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,877 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 1:07 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,743 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KRSW, 26 miles away
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.