Beech B23 accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, March 22, 2015
On March 22, 2015 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1969 Beech B23, registered N7628R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff Pulliam airport). It was a personal 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 directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2015 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Flagstaff Pulliam · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23, built 1969 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N7628R · registry record · serial M-1249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll for the local personal flight, the nosewheel seemed to turn slightly to the left. Rudder input maintained a straight path on the runway centerline, but the nosewheel side-skidded for a few seconds before the airplane lifted off. When the airplane returned for landing, the pilot stated that touchdown was smooth and uneventful. During the landing roll, the nosewheel turned slightly left, and he attempted to correct with full right rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the left, exited the runway, and impacted a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light. The pilot stated that he felt that the right rudder bungee did not have enough pull to stop the nosewheel from continuing to turn more sharply to the left. However, a postaccident examination of the airplane and nosewheel steering mechanism did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 122 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,370.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2014; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,452 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4G (piston); 10,214 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 5:08 pm
- Destination: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:57 pm from FLG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7628R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.