Beech A23 accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 8, 1989
On April 8, 1989 at about 2:57 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N2326W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, WHILE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO A TANK WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE FAULTY FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION FOR THE RIGHT TANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1989 · about 2:57 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N2326W · registry record · serial M923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE FLEW FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES, USING THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND HE FAILED TO REPOSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE FUEL GAGES SHOWED THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN BOTH TANKS.
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: 384 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 384 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1988; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,405 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X31 Crystal River FL
- Destination: LAL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 pm from LAL, 1 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.