Beechcraft C23 N6573R

Summary

On 25 August 1989 at about 19:59 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N6573R, operated by Looss Aviation Center, was involved in an accident near Barranquitas. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 August 1989 at 19:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Barranquitas

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N6573R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Looss Aviation Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Juan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA89FA233

4 people died.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT AND THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT (FM THE NETHERLANDS) WAS CHECKED OUT IN THE ACFT BY AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI). AFTER A 40 MIN CHECK-OUT FLT, THE PLT & 3 PAX TOOK OFF ON A LOCAL FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A RAVINE/VALLEY AREA (ORIENTED IN A NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION ON MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN). IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE VALLEY AT AN ELEV OF APRX 1100 FT. DRG IMPACT, THE ENG WAS BURIED IN DIRT & THE ACFT BEGAN BURNING. AN EXAM OF THE PROP REVEALED CHORDWISE SCRATCHES ON BOTH BLADES AS WELL AS S-CURLING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. WITNESSES RPRTD SEEING A SINGLE ENG ACFT FLYING LOW IN THE RAVINES (VALLEYS). SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY HEARD THE ACFT CRASH, THEN THEY SAW SMOKE/FIRE FROM THE ACDNT SITE. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE LOADED ABOUT 48 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LIMIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.