Beech C-23 accident near Chesapeake, Ohio, July 16, 1991
On July 16, 1991 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N9723Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chesapeake, Ohio (Lawrence County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED THAT WOULD PRECLUDE A STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPENED DOOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1991 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chesapeake, Ohio · Lawrence County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N9723Q · no longer on the register · serial M-1305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE MAIN CABIN DOOR OPENED AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED FOR LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE AIRSPEED WAS FAST CONSIDERING THE FLAP SETTING AND BACK PRESSURE HE HAD APPLIED. HE STATED THAT IN THE LANDING FLARE, WHEN HE APPLIED ADDITIONAL BACK PRESSURE, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY, NOSEWHEEL AND PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 154 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 88 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,605 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1990; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.