Beech BE-23 accident near Shelburne, Vermont, June 21, 1983
On June 21, 1983 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech BE-23, registered N2389Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelburne, Vermont. It was an instructional 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1983 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelburne, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-23
- Registration
- N2389Z · no longer on the register · serial M-11
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A DITCH DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS CLIMBINGAT ABOUT 200 FEET WHEN THE POWER DROPPED 700-800 RPM. THE PILOT APPLIED CARB HEAT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED TO AVOID A HOUSING AREA. THE ACFT DESCENDED TO 50-75 FT AND POWER WAS REGAINED. THE ACFT CLIMBED BACK TO 200 FT. ABOUT MID FIELD AND ON BASE LEG THE POWER LOSS WAS COMPLETE. A NORMAL LANDING COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED. THE PILOT TURNED TO THE NORTH AND LANDED IN A STALL. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A RAISED PORTION OF A DITCH ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. GROUND CONTACT SEPARATED THE LANDING GEAR FROM THE ACFT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, THE STUDENT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,821 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 2,744 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,492 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9B3 Shelburne VT at 4:30 pm
- Destination: BTV Burlington VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.