Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

November 10, 1995 · Beech 35 · N9894R

Belleville, KS

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 10, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Belleville, KS
Aircraft
Beech 35
Tail Number
N9894R
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI96LA031

THE PILOT WAS CIRCLING FOR LANDING AFTER EXECUTING A NDB RWY 18 APPROACH. WHILE CIRCLING THE PASSENGER GOT SICK. THE PILOT CONTINUED IN THE PATTERN AND TURNED BASE AT 140 KNOTS. HE REPORTED A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT, AND WITH MAXIMUM POWER APPLIED THE AIRPLANE SANK IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE TO THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED TROUBLE DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE GRASS AND CONCRETE RUNWAYS. A LOCAL RESIDENT APPROX 2 MILES AWAY REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A SNOW BLIZZARD.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot misjudging his approach to the runway. Factors relating to the accident were: the weather conditions, a sick passenger that diverted the pilot's attention, the snow covered terrain, and the pilot's decision not to execute the missed approach procedure.

Full Narrative

On November 10, 1995, at 1530 central standard time (cst), a Beech 35, N9894R, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain. The airplane was circling to land, after executing the NDB 18 instrument approach at Belleville, Kansas. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating on a IFR flight plan. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight departed from South Haven, Michigan, at 1100 cst. N9894R was en route to Mankato, Kansas. During a telephone interview on November 14, 1995, the pilot said he decided to land at Belleville because Mankato did not have an instrument approach, and the conditions at Mankato were IFR. The pilot stated he flew a slow approach with gear down and flaps up. The pilot said he saw the airport when he was over the top of the airport at 2,300 feet mean sea level (MSL). After seeing the airport the pilot said he turned the airplane east to begin a traffic pattern for landing. According to the pilot during downwind the passenger in the right seat became ill. The pilot reported continuing the traffic pattern and said he turned base at 140 knots. The pilot reported a sudden downdraft, and with maximum power applied the airplane sank in a level attitude to the ground. The pilot estimated the landing visibility at one and one half miles, with the cloud bases at 2,400 feet MSL. The pilot reported the wind as very gusty and said he was ready to depart the area. The pilot also reported trouble distinguishing between the grass and the concrete runways. The pilot said he planned to land to the south. The pilot's written statement was received by the investigator in charge (IIC) on November 30, 1995. The pilot wrote that on the inbound leg of the approach at approximately 2,400 feet MSL, the airplane was in VFR conditions. The pilot wrote that at one to one and one half miles from the airport, he had visual contact with the airport. The pilot also wrote that the aircraft experienced severe turbulence while inbound on the approach, which caused the passenger to become ill. The pilot wrote that once in VFR conditions he turned the pitot heat off, and entered left downwind for runway 32 which is grass. The pilot wrote that after noticing standing water on runway 32 he decided to abort the landing, and turned north. The pilot wrote that after turning north bound a severe downdraft or microburst was encountered, and with maximum power applied the airplane descended into the terrain. The airplane came to rest approximately one quarter of a mile north east of the airport. Ground impact marks were found south of where the airplane came to rest. A weather observation facility located 20 miles south of the accident site was reporting indefinite ceiling 300 sky obscured. The visibility was reported as one quarter mile in heavy snow and fog. The wind was from 360 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 22 knots. A local resident who was approximately two miles away from the accident site wrote "the accident occurred during a snow blizzard." During a telephone conversation, the resident estimated the visibility to be between 100 and 600 feet. The Belleville Telescope newspaper reported three automobile accidents occurred that day, as a result of the blizzard like conditions. The first automobile accident occurred at 1520 cst the second at 1605 cst. Post flight investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration found the airplane's engine was separated from the airframe, and the left wing was bent up at approximately forty five degrees from the center of the aileron. All propeller blades were bent. The left landing gear leg was down, the nose and right landing gear legs had collapsed. The wing flaps were found in the up position. The approach plate for the NDB 18 approach was out, and vomit was all over the cockpit.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 CST
Nearest AirportBelleville (0nm NE)
Runway18
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 35
Tail NumberN9894R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-550B4 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 14 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility0.2 sm
Ceiling300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point21 C / 21 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time03:17
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data