Beech 58 accident near Ulysses, Kansas, February 23, 2018
On February 23, 2018 at about 3:08 am local time, a 1970 Beech 58, registered N678DD, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Ulysses, Kansas (Ulysses airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight loss of control and collision with terrain for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2018 · about 3:08 am local time
- Place
- Ulysses, Kansas · Ulysses · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 UNDESIGNAT, built 1970 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N678DD · no longer on the register · serial TH-70
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument-rated private pilot and one passenger departed on a personal flight in the pilot's multi-engine airplane in night visual meteorological conditions. A witness saw the lights of the accident airplane about 2 minutes after it departed. Within several seconds, the lights "fell quickly like a shooting star," followed by an orange flash of fire as the airplane impacted terrain. There was no radar or radio communications information associated with the airplane. The wreckage was severely fragmented, and the evidence at the accident site was consistent with a high-energy impact in a left-wing-low, nose-down attitude. Examination revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engines. Autopsy and toxicology testing of the pilot revealed no evidence of physiological impairment or incapacitation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,589 hours in all
- Last flight review: February 7, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,369.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 17, 2017
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Continental Motors Inc IO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors Inc IO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ULS Ulysses KS at 3:06 am
- Destination: TQK Scott City KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:08 am from KJHN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on January 6, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records - Last 100-HR Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photograph of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Fuel Receipt from February 7, 2018 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Personal Electronic Device - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (Cmi) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (Textron) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.