# Accident 19970203002319A: Beech 23, Palatka, FL, February 3, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 3, 1997, 11:05 local time
- Place: Palatka, FL
- Airport: Kay Larkin Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6401° N, 81.6501° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6401&lon=-81.6501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2379L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2379L-2017-03-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 23 (registry code 1151202, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 23
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970203002319A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)WHILE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT OF BEECH 23, N2379L, DID A NUMBER OF TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. ON HIS FINAL LANDING, HE HEARD THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ALSO IN THE LANDING PATTERN. THE PILOT OF N2379L DECIDED TO LAND LONG IN ORDER TO BE CLOSE TO A TAXIWAY, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. HE MADE A FLAT TOUCHDOWN, AT WHICH TIME, HE HEARD A 'CRACK.' THE PILOT PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, AND THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED, THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE WHEEL WELL, WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A HAND HELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CAUSE OF THE NOSE GEAR FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL97LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA038), Feb 3, 1997: Beech 23 (N2379L), Palatka, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the nose gear for undetermined reason(s).

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.