Beech A23-24 accident near Lyons, New York, May 8, 1988
On May 8, 1988 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Beech A23-24, registered N7982L, was destroyed in an accident near Lyons, New York (Lyons/Belcher Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING HIS GO AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1988 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lyons, New York · Lyons/Belcher Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-24 · all A23-24s on the register
- Registration
- N7982L · no longer on the register · serial MA-144
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING A LANDING GO AROUND AT THE PILOT'S PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT HE MISSED THE FIRST APPROACH AND ON THE GO AROUND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, FAILED TO GAIN ALTITUDE AND CRASHED IN THE FIELD. WITNESSES STATED THE PILOT HAD MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LAND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY ALSO STATED THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND TO THE NORTH WITH WINDS BLOWING FROM A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION AT 10 TO 15 MPH.
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: 457 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 417 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A2B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAV Ashland OH at 7:10 pm
- Destination: Lyons NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.