Beech A35 accident near Douglass, Kansas, June 30, 2003
On June 30, 2003 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Beech A35, registered N564B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Douglass, Kansas (Pilot Point airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed and his premature liftoff, which resulted in a stall. A factor to the accident was the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2003 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Douglass, Kansas · Pilot Point · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N564B · no longer on the register · serial D-1584
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damage when it impacted trees during an aborted takeoff. The pilot reported that while taxing he "flipped [the] switch with [the] intentions of putting flaps down." According to the pilot, while on takeoff roll the airplane lifted off and stalled. The pilot reported that he lowered the nose and when the airplane settled it was out of control. The airplane subsequently struck a tree and large rock. The pilot stated, "... After that accident I noticed that the flaps switch was in the up position. Thus, I rotated off the ground with insufficient airspeed for plane configuration to sustain flight."
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: 150 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,527.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 2002; 44.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SN52 Douglass KS at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 3D2 Ephriam WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; a few clouds at 900 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from KIAB, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.