Beech A23-19 accident near Tehachapi, California, September 26, 2009
On September 26, 2009 at about 3:09 pm local time, a Beech A23-19, registered N7944L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Tehachapi, California (Tehachapi Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain an established approach path while on final approach resulting in an improper flare and bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2009 · about 3:09 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Tehachapi Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-19 · all A23-19s on the register
- Registration
- N7944L · no longer on the register · serial MB 143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he overshot his turn to final and had to bank hard left to align with the center of the runway; as a result he was off to the extreme left side of the runway. He banked hard right to correct, and landed hard on the left edge of the runway. The airplane bounced and landed on the right side of the runway. The pilot stated that he added power in an attempt to salvage the landing; however, the airplane departed the runway, impacted a chain link fence, and came to rest nose down. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine experienced no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 23 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,417 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fly'N Oma'S Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KAPV Apple Valley CA at 1:50 pm
- Destination: KTSP Tehachapi CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,031 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.