# Accident 20210511008299A: Beech C23, Merrill, WI, May 11, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2021, 15:30 local time
- Place: Merrill, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.2420° N, 89.6133° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2420&lon=-89.6133&mi=10
- Aircraft: N793Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N793Y) (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: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 230 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210511008299A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 11, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 LOCAL TIME A BEECH AIRCRAFT C23 SUNDOWNER REGISTRATION NUMBER N793Y WITH THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A PART 91 FLIGHT FROM (RRL) MERRILL, WI. ONE HOUR INTO THE FLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES FROM RRL AT 1300 AGL, AND BEGINNING TO PLAN HIS 45 DEGREE ENTRY INTO A LEFT DOWNWIND PATTERN TO LAND ON RUNWAY 07, THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY WITH A LOSS OF RPM. THE PILOT REPORTED INCREASING THE THROTTLE TO FULL POWER FROM APPROXIMATELY 2000 - 2100 RPM WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THE ENGINE. THE PILOT REPORTED SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, THINKING THAT THERE MIGHT BE CONTAMINATION; THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT, AND RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE. THE PILOT SWITCHED FROM "BOTH" MAGNETOS TO "L" MAGNETO THEN BACK TO "BOTH" THEN TO THE "R" MAGNETO AND THEN BACK TO "BOTH". THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT CHOSE A FIELD TO LAND IN AND TURNED INTO THE WIND.  THE PILOT STATED ?AS I APPROACHED THE GROUND, I SAW POWER LINES AT THE END OF THE FIELD AND I TURNED THE PLANE APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES (TO LAND HEADING NW)?, THE LANDING GEAR FAILED AFTER TOUCHING THE GROUND, AND THE PLANE SKIDDED TO A HALT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT TIME OF IMPACT. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT WERE REPORTED. DAY VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME.

## 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 CEN21LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA213), May 11, 2021: Beech C23 (N793Y), Merrill, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to tappet failure.

## Other reports on N793Y (1)

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

- [Incident 19800604055369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800604055369I), Jun 4, 1980: Beech B23BEECH (N793Y), Albany, NY. Lost navigation and communication due to dead batteries.

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.