# Accident 20000208000569A: Beech B23, New Braunfels, TX, February 8, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2000, 13:30 local time
- Place: New Braunfels, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7602° N, 98.1906° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7602&lon=-98.1906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4014T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4014T-2002-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech B23 (registry code 1151240, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b23) (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 B23
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00FA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000208000569A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON FEBRUARY 8, 2000, AT 1330 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A BEECH B23, SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N4014T, IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR NEW BRAUFELS, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91.  THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.  THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED THE NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, APPROX. 1230.  WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX. 20 FEET ABOVE THE TREES.  THEY FURTHER REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE RUNNING.  THE MANAGER OF THE NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD RADIOED THAT HIS AIRPLANE'S ENGINE HAD LOST POWER.  ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING COME UP TO VERTICAL AND THEN THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN INTO THE TREES.  ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE FLEW BY HER IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, AND AFTER THE AIRPLANE CLEARED SOME POWER LINES IT STARTED TO DESCEND.  IT THEN APPEARE D THAT THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED SOME TREES BEFORE IT NOSED DOWN INTO THE TREES. (-23) ON FEBRUARY 8, 2000, APPROXIMATELY AT 13:30 CST, A BEECH B23, N4014T IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STUDENT PILOT MICHAEL S. SOOTER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. MR. SOOTER WAS ON A VFR SOLO STUDENT INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.

## 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 FTW00FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00FA080), Feb 8, 2000: Beech B23 (N4014T), New Braunfels, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the seizure of the engine while maneuvering due to the oil pressure relief valve plug ball seat becoming contaminated with metal. Contributing factors were the inadequate engine maintenance, and the…

## Other reports on N4014T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19790322011499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790322011499I), Mar 22, 1979: Beech 23BEECH (N4014T), Newport, NH, Minor damage. The aircraft struck a snow bank with the left main gear while landing on the threshold of the runway.

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.

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