Beech C23 accident near Kahoka, Missouri, April 5, 2002
On April 5, 2002 at about 1:32 am local time, a Beech C23, registered N2258L, was destroyed in an accident near Kahoka, Missouri (Kahoka Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper soft field takeoff/procedure by the pilot. Contributing factors were the night condition and the inadequate planning/decision by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2002 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Kahoka, Missouri · Kahoka Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N2258L · no longer on the register · serial M1893
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain and postcrash fire during takeoff from a soft field with inoperative runway lights. The Airport Facility Directory listed the runway lighting for the airport as inoperative. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane lifted off at 65 knots approximately 1,500 feet down the 2,650 foot long runway. Takeoff performance data listed for the model of airplane indicates that the airplane has an approximate ground roll distance of 1,220 feet. The pilot described the flight controls as feeling mushy, a condition which is consistent with flight near stalling speed and high drag flight. He also stated that the airplane developed more airspeed and lift as it approached the end of the runway but the airplane seemed to not want to maintain flight so he chose to land the airplane. No mechanical malfunctions were noted.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 85 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 4, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 2002; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 0H7 Kahoka MO at 1:30 am
- Destination: K89 Macon MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,650 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 am from EOK, 13 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.