# Accident 20260212007249A: Beech C23, Knoxville, TN, February 12, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 2026, 13:10 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Airport: Knoxville Downtown Island
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9640° N, 83.8739° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9640&lon=-83.8739&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1988L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1988L) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 375 total, 370 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260212007249A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ERA26LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA128), Feb 12, 2026: Beech C23 (N1988L), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N1988L (1)

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

- [Incident 19800714060679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800714060679I), Jul 14, 1980: Beech B23BEECH (N1988L), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Forced landing when engine failed due to lack of oil.

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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