Beech A24R accident near Ogden, Utah, September 12, 2017
On September 12, 2017 at about 7:37 pm local time, a 1972 Beech A24R, registered N9798L, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ogden, Utah (Ogden-Hinckley 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 airplane's inability to maintain an initial takeoff climb for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2017 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- Ogden, Utah · Ogden-Hinckley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24R, built 1972 · all A24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9798L · no longer on the register · serial MC-117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that general maintenance had recently been completed on the airplane, and this was the pilot's first flight in the airplane and the first flight since the maintenance. The pilot completed two engine run-ups before taking off to practice touch-and-go landings. During the takeoff sequence, all instruments indicated normal. The airplane climbed to about 200 ft but then stopped climbing. The pilot reported that the engine did not sound obviously rough; however, the altitude was not increasing, and airspeed was decreasing. He enriched the mixture with no improvement. He turned on the fuel boost pump and received a little extra power for about half a second. He then tested the magnetos, which both indicated normal. He attempted to maintain altitude; however, his airspeed was steadily decreasing, so he chose to land on a nearby road, during which the airplane impacted a car and then the ground before it was consumed by fire. The weather observation just before the accident indicated the wind was variable at 3 knots, with the visibility at or greater than 10 miles and clear skies. The weather observation just after the accident indicated the wind was at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots, with visibility at or greater than 10 miles and clear skies. A gust front was moving northeastward toward the accident site about the time of the accident. The leading edge of the outflow or gust front moved past the accident site right around the time of the accident. Witnesses reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine sounded "weird" and was "sputtering" or "puttering." The postaccident airframe and engine examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the erratic and strong wind conditions reduced the airplane's ability to maintain the initial takeoff climb.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 70 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 7:35 pm
- Destination: OGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,103 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from OGD, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weather Study | PDF, 40 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Attachment 1 | GIF file | Download |
| 3 | Weather Attachment 2 | GIF file | Download |
| 4 | Weather Attachment 3 | GIF file | Download |
| 5 | Weather Attachment 4 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Attachment 5 | GIF file | Download |
| 7 | Weather Attachment 6 | GIF file | Download |
| 8 | Weather Attachment 7 | zip file | Download |
| 9 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Witness Statements | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector Regarding Postaccident Engine Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Component Examination Observations | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
