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20260212007249A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Beech C23 · Knoxville, TN · February 12, 2026

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
February 12, 2026 · 13:10 local
Place
Knoxville, TN
Airport
Knoxville Downtown Island
Phase of flight
Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N1988L
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA26LA128
Reported as
Beech C23
Reported engine
Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
375 total370 in this make and model
N1988LRegistered now · Beech C23S/N M-1842Airframe modelBeech C23Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On 02/12/2026 at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (dkx) pilot was performing first flight following the completion of aircraft annual inspection. Pilot conducted preflight inspection and run-up. No abnormalities were noted. Pilot indicated there were no issues during taxi, take off or during the flight. Pilot indicated that during take off, aircraft tended to want to veer slightly to the left, but was easily control with rudder input. Pilots intentions was to execute 3 required take offs and landings for currency. During first landing, pilot stated all indications and controls felt normal, rear landing gear touched down first, then the nose landing gear. At that time pilot stated the nose pulled hard left and was uncontrollable. Aircraft left the runway into the sod and nose of aircraft impacted the ground. Pilot was able to exit the aircraft with no injuries. Airport personnel arrive to assist with pilot recovery. Nose landing gear assembly was evaluated, no mechanical anomalies noted.

As the FAA filed it

ON 02/12/2026 AT KNOXVILLE DOWNTOWN ISLAND AIRPORT (DKX) PILOT WAS PERFORMING FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF AIRCRAFT ANNUAL INSPECTION. PILOT CONDUCTED PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND RUN-UP. NO ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED. PILOT INDICATED THERE WERE NO ISSUES DURING TAXI, TAKE OFF OR DURING THE FLIGHT. PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING TAKE OFF, AIRCRAFT TENDED TO WANT TO VEER SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, BUT WAS EASILY CONTROL WITH RUDDER INPUT. PILOTS INTENTIONS WAS TO EXECUTE 3 REQUIRED TAKE OFFS AND LANDINGS FOR CURRENCY. DURING FIRST LANDING, PILOT STATED ALL INDICATIONS AND CONTROLS FELT NORMAL, REAR LANDING GEAR TOUCHED DOWN FIRST, THEN THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. AT THAT TIME PILOT STATED THE NOSE PULLED HARD LEFT AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY INTO THE SOD AND NOSE OF AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES. AIRPORT PERSONNEL ARRIVE TO ASSIST WITH PILOT RECOVERY. NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS EVALUATED, NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES NOTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA26LA128Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportKnoxville, TNThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a ditch.Feb 12, 2026 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1988L · 1

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

Incident 19800714060679IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Anchorage, AKForced landing when engine failed due to lack of oil.Jul 14, 1980 · Reported as Beech B23BEECH · Minor damage