Beech M35 accident near Dekalb, Illinois, June 21, 1992
On June 21, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9873R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dekalb, Illinois (Taylor Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE PROPER NOSE WHEEL STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dekalb, Illinois · Taylor Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9873R · no longer on the register · serial D6426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER INITIATING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A MARSHY AREA WHERE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS.
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: 177 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,716 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 24, 1991; 687 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DKB at 10:00 pm
- Destination: DKB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 35,000 ft; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from ARR, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.