# Accident 19990425004019A: Beech C23, Apex, NC, April 25, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 25, 1999, 08:50 local time - Place: Apex, NC - Airport: Cox Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 35.7192° N, 78.8393° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7192&lon=-78.8393&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9249S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9249S-2017-02-17) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech C23 (registry code 1151242, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C23 - Reported engine: LYC O360A4K - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 140 total, 27 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA139) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990425004019A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT STRUCK TREES ON TAKE-OFF, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKN. (FROM .19) ON MARCH 25, 1999, ABOUT 0850 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BEECH 23, N9249S, REGISTERED TO AN INDIVIDUAL IMPACTED WITH A TREE DURING CLIMBOUT NEAR APEX, NORTH CAROLINA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES, AND TWO PASSENGERS REPORTED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD JUST DEPARTED EN ROUTE TO ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME. THE PILOT HAD TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO RUNWAY 27, AND PLANNED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. HE RAN THE ENGINE TO FULL POWER, RELEASED THE FOOT BRAKES, APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE AIRPLANE YAWING TO THE LEFT, AND APPLIED BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE. AS THE NOSE ROTATED, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT AILERON, BUT NEVER RELEASED THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT UNTIL IT STRUCK A TREE. (.4) THE PILOT HAD TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO RUNWAY 09, AND PLANNED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. HE RAN THE E NGINE TO FULL POWER, RELEASED THE FOOT BRAKES, APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE AIRPLANE YAWING TO THE LEFT, AND APPLIED BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE. AS THE NOSE ROTATED, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT AILERON, BUT NEVER RELEASED THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT UNTIL IT STRUCK A TREE, TURNING THE AIRPLANE HARD TO THE RIGHT, AND STRIKING THE NEXT TREE WITH THE SPINNER OF THE PROPELLER. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF, AGAINST A CLUTTER OF TREES, SUPPORTED BY THE LEFT WING. (-23) ON MARCH 25, 1999, AT APP. 08:50 A.M., MR. WEATHER TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF ON RWY. 27, A GRASS RUNWAY AT APEX, NC (NC18). HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND RELEASED BRAKES, APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER IN AND FULL BACK ON CONTROL FOR SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. AS NOSE ROTATED, STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT RIGHT, HE PUT IN A LITTLE LEFT AILERON, BUT DID NOT RELEASE FULL RIGHT RUDDER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREE ON RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY ABOUT 250 FEET FROM CENTER LINE OF RUNWAY. ## 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 MIA99LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA139), Apr 25, 1999: Beech 23 (N9249S), Apex, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane resulting in the airplane drifting, and subsequently impacting with trees. ## Other reports on N9249S (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19770919026609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770919026609A), Sep 19, 1977: Beech C23 (N9249S), Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage 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.