- Date
- April 19, 1989, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Augusta, ME
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2231LBeech B19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890419009349A
- Case key
- 36283
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain the proper altitude during the approach. A factor related to the accident was: the pilot's psychological condition.
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
Shortly after taking off, the aircraft crashed into a dirt bluff, 197 ft short of runway 8 and 22 ft below the level of the runway. Witnesses who observed the crash said the aircraft did not deviate or rock wings prior to impact. There was no evidence of pre-existing failure or malfunction with either the engine or airframe. The propeller had deep leading edge marks and chord wise striations. There was no evidence of seat belt usage by the pilot, who was thrown clear of the wreckage. The pilot was an investment banker, who had just been placed on leave with pay by his employer, while his financial transactions were being checked.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2231L
- Reported as
- Beech B19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- MB-820
- Airframe hours
- 3,477
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Maine Instrument Flight School
- Registered owner
- Maine Instrument Flight School
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 7, 1989 · 5 hours before
- Airport
- AUG · Augusta State, runway 8, 2,703 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 164 total · 138 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUG, 1 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.
Other investigations on N2231L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.