Beech C23 accident near Lansing, WV
On September 26, 2021, a Beech C23 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lansing, WV. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 26, 2021
- Place
- Lansing, WV
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.084°N, 81.068°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210926103961
Official records · ERA21FA377
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 26, 2021, at 1009 eastern daylight time, a Beech C-23, N3342L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Lansing, West Virginia. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was departing New River Gorge Airport (WV32) when the accident occurred. The airport owner, his brother, and a neighbor witnessed the accident, and each provided statements; their versions of events were consistent throughout. The airplane had been parked at the airport in front of the owner’s hangar all weekend. On the day of the accident (Sunday), the pilot and two passengers arrived, loaded their luggage and camping gear, and the pilot started the airplane and taxied from its mid-field parking spot to the approach end of runway 22, which was 2,950 ft long. According to the witnesses, the airplane “powered up” and accelerated. When the airplane reached the point where “airplanes usually lift off,” it continued accelerating down runway 22. The takeoff was aborted, the airplane continued to the runway end, turned around, and subsequently attempted to depart from runway 04. One witness said, “I thought he would take off this time.” Instead, the airplane continued to accelerate until engine power was reduced, and the second takeoff attempt was aborted. The airplane continued to the departure end of runway 04, turned around again, and began to takeoff from runway 22 for a third attempt. One witness stated that, as the airplane approache
Probable cause
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering to avoid trees and terrain after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Also causal was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane outside of its weight and balance limitations and his decision to continue the takeoff after two previous aborted takeoffs during which the airplane demo
More accidents in WV
- Bell UH-1B, Jun 22, 2022
- Piper PA-34-200T, Jan 30, 2009
- Piper PA-32R-301T, Jul 19, 2004
- Piper PA-32-R-300, Sep 26, 1982
- Piper PA-32RT-300T, Feb 9, 1984
Browse: West Virginia · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
