- Date
- September 10, 2025, 14:08 local (18:08 UTC)
- Place
- South Bend, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N997VBeech C23
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 15, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20250910019489A
- Case key
- 201006
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go around which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, about 200 to 300 ft above the ground, the pilot’s side door became unlatched. The pilot decided to return to the airport and land to close the door. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder input, but the airplane continued to the right. He initiated a go-around but was unable to gain sufficient airspeed. The airplane stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. According to the pilot no mechanical failures or malfunctions were observed before the door opened during the initial climb.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N997V
- Reported as
- Beech C23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M-2234
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 1,962.2
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 7, 2025 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- BSN · South Bend, IN
- Destination
- OEB · Coldwater, MO
- Airport
- SBN · South Bend Intl, runway 09R/27L, 8,412 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 24, 2025
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 411 in this make and model · 425 as pilot in command · 0 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 80
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 3, 2025
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,060 total · 10 in this make and model · 3,625 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.17 inHg
- Observed at
- KSBN
- METAR
- KSBN 101754Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM CLR 25/08 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP214 6//// T02500083 10256 20139 58002=
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.