Beech B36TC accident near Sullivan, Missouri, September 7, 2009
On September 7, 2009 at about 10:52 pm local time, a Beech B36TC, registered N65873, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sullivan, Missouri (Sullivan Regional Airport). It was a personal 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
A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2009 · about 10:52 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Missouri · Sullivan Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B36TC · all B36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N65873 · registry record · serial EA-342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was feeling more back pressure in the flight controls than normal during takeoff from runway 06, and that he felt a “heavy, nose down pressure.” The pilot considered landing immediately, but he determined there was insufficient runway remaining. He engaged the electric trim switch, but it did not relieve the downward pressure. The pilot decided to return to land on runway 06 so he banked left 30 degrees. He noticed the airspeed was about 85 knots, but the airspeed appeared to be dropping despite full power, level pitch, and the landing gear down. He reported that the stall warning horn sounded midway through the turn, so he attempted to make a straight-in landing to runway 24. The airplane crossed over runway 24 about mid-field so the pilot attempted to land on the parallel taxiway. The right wingtip “clipped” the pavement and the airplane veered off the taxiway with the nose gear collapsing as it skidded to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator trim tab setting indicator showed a 1-degree nose down setting. The elevator and elevator trim systems were checked for continuity, proper operation, and proper direction of travel. The examination revealed that the systems operated properly. The flaps were found in the up position.
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 22, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,095 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 2009; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUV Sullivan MO at 10:50 pm
- Destination: SUS Chesterfield MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from VIH, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.