Beech C23 accident near Penn Yan, New York, July 11, 1985
On July 11, 1985 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6704L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Penn Yan, New York (Penn Yan airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- July 11, 1985 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Penn Yan, New York · Penn Yan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6704L · registry record · serial M-2240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, DURING THE LANDING THE PLT OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK INDICATING CALM WINDS AND THE ACFT WAS LANDED INTO THE SUN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, PWR WAS ADDED FOR TAKEOFF. WHEN THE ACFT WAS APRX 2/3 THE WAY DOWN THE RWY, THE PLT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO RUNNING OFF THE RWY, ACROSS A ROAD AND COLLIDING WITH A SMALL TREE. THE MANUAL FLAPS WERE EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE LANDING AND ABORTED TAKEOFF.
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: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,027 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROC Rochester NY at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 3,206 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.