Beech 58 accident near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, October 18, 1994
On October 18, 1994 at about 9:16 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N83KK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Wayne, Indiana (Smith Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the in-flight collision with birds(geese). A factors associated with the accident was the building which was contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 1994 · about 9:16 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Wayne, Indiana · Smith Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N83KK · registry record · serial TH1666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 23, AND HAD JUST REACHED FLYING SPEED WHEN THE PILOT SAW A FLOCK OF GEESE APPROACHING FROM HIS RIGHT. THE GEESE STRUCK THE AIRPLANE, BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD AND HITTING THE PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE CUT POWER TO THE ENGINES AND LANDED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT TO MISS TREES AND A HOUSE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO SLIDING INTO A COMMERCIAL RETAIL BUILDING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,188 hours in all; 383 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,087 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1994; 338 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,524 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMD at 9:16 pm
- Destination: IND Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 3,110 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:24 pm from FWA, 12 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.