Beechcraft 23 N2397J

Summary

On 22 June 1996 at about 00:37 local time, a Beechcraft 23 registered N2397J was involved in an accident near Fulton, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 June 1996 at 00:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Fulton, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Elton Hensley Memorial (FTT)

Coordinates

38.8508, -91.9505

Aircraft

Beechcraft 23

Registration

N2397J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96FA209

2 people died.

the inadequate intake valve springs on the #1 cylinder.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported an abnormal amount of black smoke trailing from the aircraft after takeoff. The airplane subsequently descended through trees and power lines. Postaccident investigation revealed the engine's #1 cylinder did not have compression when checked. After the intake valve of the #1 cylinder was pried back, the cylinder had compression when the propeller was rotated. The #1 cylinder's intake and exhaust manifold areas were darker in color than those of the other cylinders. The #1 cylinder's valve springs were not within the tolerances as listed by the manufacturer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.