- Date
- August 27, 2003, 09:07 local (13:07 UTC)
- Place
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2322QBeech 23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Tampa FSDO-35
- FAA report
- 20030827023209A
- Case key
- 57791
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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated, he performed an engine run-up and had a normal takeoff. At about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The airplane clipped a tree during the forced landing. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated the pilot stated to him the engine failed at 200 to 300 feet above the ground and crashed landed in a field 1/2 mile off the departure end of runway 15, a published 4,743-foot-long runway. A witness, an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, stated that he heard a "poorly running engine" and observed the accident airplane flying south about 20 to 30 feet above the runway. At that point, there was more then 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The airplane continued flying past the runway and off the airport barely holding altitude. He saw the airplane suddenly climbed another 10 to 20 feet before it descended out of his view.
Factual narrative
On August 27, 2003, about 0907 eastern daylight time, a Beech 23, N2322Q, operated by an individual and owned by E-Z Flying Club, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, lost engine power and impacted a tree during takeoff at the Charlotte County Airport, Punta Gorda, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time.
The pilot stated, he performed an engine run-up and had a normal takeoff. At about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The airplane clipped a tree during the forced landing. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated the pilot stated to him the engine failed at 200 to 300 feet above the ground and crashed landed in a field 1/2 mile off the departure end of runway 15, a published 4,743-foot-long runway.
A witness, an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, stated that he heard a "poorly running engine" and observed the accident airplane flying south about 20 to 30 feet above the runway. At that point, there was more then 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The airplane continued flying past the runway and off the airport barely holding altitude. He saw the airplane suddenly climbed another 10 to 20 feet before it descended out of his view.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2322Q
- Reported as
- Beech 23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M386
- Airframe hours
- 1,877
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John F. Boldt, doing business as Personal
- Registered owner
- E-Z Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PGD · Punta Gorda, FL
- Airport
- PGD · Charlotte County Airport, runway 15, 4,743 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 29, 2002
- Flight hours
- 770 total · 15 in this make and model · 670 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KRSW, 26 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.