Beech C-23 accident near Williamstown, Massachusetts, July 28, 1991
On July 28, 1991 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N7690R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamstown, Massachusetts. It was a personal 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
ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL PERFORMED BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1991 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Williamstown, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N7690R · no longer on the register · serial M1290
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 200 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FEET. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR RETAINING BOLT BACKING OUT RESULTING IN THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CRANKSHAFT. THE ENGINE HAD RECENTLY BEEN OVERHAULED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE OVERHAUL. SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING.
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: 206 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 136 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,096 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5BE Bennington VT at 7:30 pm
- Destination: GBR Gt. Barrington MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.