Beech A23 accident near Pinehurst, North Carolina, June 27, 1999
On June 27, 1999 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N1455L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pinehurst, North Carolina (Southern Pines airport). It was an instructional 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 flight crew's improper fuel management resulting in engine loss of power due to fuel starvation and damage to the airplane due to collision with trees in the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1999 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pinehurst, North Carolina · Southern Pines · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N1455L · no longer on the register · serial M-841`
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The CFI and private-rated student were conducting their fifth touch and go landing approach and as power was being applied to correct a low-on-final condition, there was no engine response. The CFI took control and attempted a forced landing to a vacant field that ended up in the trees. Post crash examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel tank selected was empty.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,565 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,378 as pilot in command; 678 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1999; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,355 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Carthage NC at 8:15 pm
- Destination: SOP Pinehurst NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,503 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from SOP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.