Beech C23 accident near Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, August 25, 1989
On August 25, 1989 at about 7:59 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6573R, was destroyed in an accident near Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT AND THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1989 · about 7:59 pm local time
- Place
- Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6573R · no longer on the register · serial M-1595
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT (FM THE NETHERLANDS) WAS CHECKED OUT IN THE ACFT BY AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI). AFTER A 40 MIN CHECK-OUT FLT, THE PLT & 3 PAX TOOK OFF ON A LOCAL FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A RAVINE/VALLEY AREA (ORIENTED IN A NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION ON MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN). IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE VALLEY AT AN ELEV OF APRX 1100 FT. DRG IMPACT, THE ENG WAS BURIED IN DIRT & THE ACFT BEGAN BURNING. AN EXAM OF THE PROP REVEALED CHORDWISE SCRATCHES ON BOTH BLADES AS WELL AS S-CURLING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. WITNESSES RPRTD SEEING A SINGLE ENG ACFT FLYING LOW IN THE RAVINES (VALLEYS). SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY HEARD THE ACFT CRASH, THEN THEY SAW SMOKE/FIRE FROM THE ACDNT SITE. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE LOADED ABOUT 48 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LIMIT.
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: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,915 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 19, 1989; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Looss Aviation Center
The flight
- Departed from: SIG San Juan PR at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from SJU, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.