Beech A33-35 accident near Theodosia, Missouri, May 5, 1993
On May 5, 1993 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Beech A33-35, registered N397Z, was destroyed in an accident near Theodosia, Missouri (Lost Mine Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TAILWIND, A HEAVY WEIGHT LOAD, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH TO LAND THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1993 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Theodosia, Missouri · Lost Mine Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A33-35
- Registration
- N397Z · no longer on the register · serial CD-275
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED THE TAKEOFF TO THE WEST ON A DOWNHILL RUNWAY WITH A TAILWIND OF APPROXIMATELY 9 KNOTS. UPON REACHING 200 FEET AGL, THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS IN POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO TREES. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE TERRAIN IN AN INVERTED POSITION AND A POST IMPACT FIRE ERUPTED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE/MALFUCNTION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER. JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT AVOIDED TAKING OFF FROM ANOTHER AIRPORT WITH THIS PASSENGER LOAD DUE TO WEIGHT CONCERNS.
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: 655 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 1992; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Marshfield MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.