Beech P35 accident near Omaha, Nebraska, May 27, 2018
On May 27, 2018 at about 1:40 pm local time, a 1962 Beech P35, registered N263CE, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Omaha, Nebraska (Millard 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
The pilot's loss of directional control and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2018 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · Millard Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P35, built 1962 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N263CE · no longer on the register · serial D-6908
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were conducting a personal flight in the single-engine airplane. Witnesses stated that about 1,300 ft from the departure end of the runway during the takeoff roll, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, traveled across a grass median between the runway and taxiway, onto taxiway surfaces, and impacted several runway and taxiway light structures. The airplane then returned to the runway, crossed the end of the runway, became airborne, and appeared to stall. The airplane's left wing impacted terrain, the airplane cartwheeled, and a post-impact fire ensued. Witnesses stated the airplane looked like it was out of control during the takeoff sequence, and the engine remained at full power. Surveillance video captured portions of the takeoff and runway excursion; the footage was consistent with witness accounts. Toxicological testing found a potentially impairing drug in the pilot; however, it is unlikely that the negative effects of the drug directly contributed to the outcome of this accident. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. A member of the pilot's family stated that he did not think the pilot flew regularly enough to stay proficient in the operation of the airplane; however, the pilot's logbook was not available for review and his recency of experience could not be determined. It is likely that the pilot, who was seated in the left seat, was flying the airplane since the right seat rudder pedals were not equipped with brakes. Because of this configuration, the pilot-rated passenger would have been unable to apply brake pressure to attempt to stop the airplane during the takeoff, although the engine throttle was accessible to both occupants. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot's loss of directional control during the takeoff roll and his subsequent failure to abort the takeoff following the runway excursion.
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 on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors, Inc IO-470-N (piston); 4,429 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MLE Omaha NE at 1:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,801 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from MLE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN18FA193.