Beech A23A accident near Crystal River, Florida, May 8, 2004
On May 8, 2004 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N3659Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crystal River, Florida (Crystal River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and incurring damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2004 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal River, Florida · Crystal River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N3659Q · no longer on the register · serial M-1043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the approach as well as the landing flare/touchdown at Crystal River Airport, was normal, but about 50 feet after the initial touchdown the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway, crossed a grass median and taxiway, coming to rest in a ditch, incurring structural damage. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that the accident airplane made tire skid marks 3000 feet down the runway in the vicinity of a taxiway entrance/exit to the runway, and an examination of the accident aircraft's brake system revealed no anomalies.
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: 141 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 22, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2004; 1.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X05 Spring Hill FL at 4:50 pm
- Destination: CGC Crystal River FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,555 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BKV, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.