Beech 23 accident near Apex, North Carolina, April 25, 1999
On April 25, 1999 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N9249S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apex, North Carolina (Cox Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane resulting in the airplane drifting, and subsequently impacting with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1999 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · Cox Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N9249S · no longer on the register · serial M1748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had taxied the airplane to runway 09, and planned a short field takeoff. He ran the engine to full power, released the foot brakes, applied full right rudder, in anticipation of the airplane yawing to the left, and applied back pressure on the yoke. As the nose rotated, the stall warning horn sounded and the airplane drifted to the right. The pilot applied left aileron, but never released the right rudder pedal. The airplane continued to drift right until it struck a tree, turning the airplane hard to the right, and striking the next tree with the spinner of the propeller. The airplane came to rest opposite the direction of takeoff, against a clutter of trees, supported by the left wing
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: 140 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,963 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1998; 386 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC81
- Destination: OGB Orangeburg SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from RDU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.