Beechcraft C23 N18994

Summary

On 24 September 2023 at about 00:14 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N18994 was involved in an accident near Gonzales, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 2023 at 00:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Gonzales, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Roger M Dreyer Meml (T20)

Coordinates

29.5253, -97.4578

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N18994

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Marcos → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA418

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of engine power during go-around due to a failed muffler flame tube, which resulted in an exhaust blockage. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the exhaust system during the most recent maintenance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while on final approach to the runway he experienced wind shear and elected to go around. He applied full throttle and began to climb out when the engine sustained a loss of power, so he made a forced landing to a field off the left side of the runway. The airplane collided with a fence and a tree, which separated the right wing near the wing root. Postaccident examination of the exhaust system revealed that a portion of the muffler flame tube had failed and blocked at least 95% of the tailpipe exit path. The piece of flame tube was lodged in the tailpipe. A 3-inch crack was noted on the muffler endcap opposite of the separated flame tube. There were no other mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The muffler had been repaired and reinstalled on the airplane about 23 years before the accident and accumulated 504.84 hours. The most recent 100-hour/annual inspection, which was completed 55.4 hours before the accident, failed to identify the degraded and corroded flame tube.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.