Beech 23 accident near King George, Virginia, May 19, 2002
On May 19, 2002 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2351Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near King George, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to perform low passes; and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2002 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- King George, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2351Z · no longer on the register · serial M-66
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot occasionally flew over his friend's residence. On the day of the accident, the friend observed the airplane over his residence, and waved his arms. The pilot waggled the airplane's wings and made one low pass over the residence. During the second circuit, the airplane quickly banked left and rolled out on a southerly heading. It began to lose altitude, and the engine revved to full power, but the airplane continued to lose altitude. The airplane then pitched up about 10 degrees, cleared the friend's house by 25-30 feet, but struck a tree at 50-60 mph. The friend reported that the airplane had a 5-15 mph tailwind at the time of the accident. There was a strong smell of fuel at the accident site and no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were observed.
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: 398 hours in all; 298 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,135 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 2002; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EZF Fredericksburg VA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: EZF
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from EZF, 10 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.