# Accident 20020527014159A: Beech C23, Greensboro, NC, May 27, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2002, 13:30 local time
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Airport: Air Harbor Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1783° N, 79.8050° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1783&lon=-79.8050&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1980L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1980L-2018-08-24) (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 O360*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 80 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020527014159A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING TAKE OFF AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT T.O. , DRIFTED RIGHT OF CENTER LINE, LANDED IN FIELD NEXT TO RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT ROLLED APPROX. 50 YARDS BEFORE TURNING SIDEWAYS, MAIN GEAR ATTACHMENT BRACKET PIECES FOUND AROUND POINT WHERE AIRCRAFT STARTED TURNING SIDEWAYS. A/C TRAVELLED ANOTHER APPROX. 30 YARDS PRIOR TO COMING TO REST APPROX. 20-25 YARDS FROM CENTER OF RUNWAY. NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED BUT REMAINED ATTACHED TO AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS A LARGE TRUCK DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE A/C PATH APPROX. 30-35 YARDS FROM CENTERLINE OF RUNWAY. A/C CAME TO REST APPROX. 10-15 YARDS FROM IN FRONT OF TRUCK. (.4) ON MAY 27, 2002, AT 1330 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BEECH 23, N1980L, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT A TAKEOFF AFTER LIFTOFF FROM RUNWAY 27AT AIR HARBOR AIRPORT IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AN                                                       D THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, AT 1329. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, HE FELT AN APPARENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN THE FIELD, THE PILOT ELECTED TO GROUND LOOP THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE REALIZED THE AIRPLANE WAS ON COLLISION COURSE WITH AN APPROACHING TRUCK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HAD SNAPPED OFF AND THE NOSE WHEEL HAD COLLAPSED. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE. SEVERAL GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL WERE NOTED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

## 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 ATL02LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA114), May 27, 2002: Beech 23 (N1980L), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, A factor was the pilot's intentional ground loop during a forced landing.

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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