Beech E18S accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky, April 29, 1988
On April 29, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech E18S, registered N300W, was destroyed in an accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky (Cynthiana Harrison CO. airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cynthiana, Kentucky · Cynthiana Harrison CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N300W · registry record · serial BA 92
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS REPOSITIONING THE AIRPLANE FROM AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FREIGHT FLIGHT. HE WAS EN ROUTE FROM ROCHESTER, NY TO HUNTSVILLE, AL WITH A PLANNED REFUEL STOP AT LOUISVILLE, KY. NEAR FALMOUTH, KY HE CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO LEXINGTON 'DUE TO A DEVELOPING ENGINE PROBLEM'. HE SAW THE AIRPORT AT CYNTHIANA AND ELECTED TO LAND THERE. WHILE ON DOWNWIND, HE NOTED THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING TURNING BLACK AND ON BASE NOTED FLAMES FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. HE REPTD SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN AND FEATHERING THE PROPELLER BUT DID NOT ACTIVATE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT, AND COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPORT WIND 'T', A POLE AND A 'T' HANGAR. POST ACC INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT PROP WAS NOT FEATHERED AND THE FUEL WAS NOT SHUT OFF. THE LEFT BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT ENGINE ACCESSORY SECTION. THE SPECIFIC FUEL SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days; 1,310 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,048 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1988; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Aero-Taxi-Rockford, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ROC Rochester NY at 1:29 pm
- Destination: LEX Lexington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from LEX, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.