Beech A36 accident near Grain Valley, Missouri, February 20, 1994
On February 20, 1994 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N58325, was destroyed in an accident near Grain Valley, Missouri (East Kansas City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL WHILE CIRCLING TO LAND. THE WEATHER WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1994 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grain Valley, Missouri · East Kansas City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N58325 · no longer on the register · serial E-477
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW TWO (NON-PRECISION) INSTRUMENT APPROACHES TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WHEN HE MISSED THE FIRST APPROACH HE REPORTED HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE AND NEEDED TO MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH. WITNESSES REPORTED EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL AS THE AIRPLANE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT WHILE CIRCLING TO LAND. THEY STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 1/2 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT WHEN THE WINGS ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, THE AIRPLANE PITCHED NOSE UP, THEN PITCHED DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED TO BE 400 TO 800 FOOT CEILING, 2 TO 3 1/2 MILES VISIBILITY IN FOG, AND NORTHERLY WINDS AT LESS THAN 10 KNOTS. RECORDS INDICATE THE PILOT HAD 9.6 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE, INCLUDING 5.1 HOURS ACTUAL INSTRUMENT TIME AND 3 INSTRUMENT APPROACHES. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE SHOULDER HARNESSES (FRONT SEATS ONLY) WERE IN THE STOWED POSITION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 513 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 354 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,496 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAE Hannibal MO at 3:14 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded at 800 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from MKC, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 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.