Beech C23 accident near Champion, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1984
On March 24, 1984 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N23968, was destroyed in an accident near Champion, Pennsylvania (Seven Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- March 24, 1984 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Champion, Pennsylvania · Seven Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N23968 · no longer on the register · serial M1906
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N23968, CRASHED INTO TREES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RWY 27 AT SEVEN SPRINGS AIRPORT. PLT TOLD THE RESORT MANAGER OF SEVEN SPRINGS THAT HE COULD NOT SEEM TO GET AIRBORNE & AFTER HE DID GET AIRBORNE HE COULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS OVER MAX GROSS WT AT TAKEOFF. THE RWY WAS REPORTED TO BE SLUSH COVERED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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 single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5 in the last 90 days; 454 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 21, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AGC West Mifflin PA at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,050 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from AGC, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.