Beech 23 accident near Hutchinson, Kansas, February 18, 1995
On February 18, 1995 at about 7:42 am local time, a Beech 23, registered N833KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hutchinson, Kansas (Hutchison Muni. Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate preflight planning by the pilot. Contributing factors to this accident were the pilot selecting the wrong runway for takeoff and the tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1995 · about 7:42 am local time
- Place
- Hutchinson, Kansas · Hutchison Muni. Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N833KS · no longer on the register · serial M1646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BEGAN AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF WITH A REPORTED 10 TO 15 KNOT TAILWIND. THE PILOT SAID HIS AIRSPEED WAS NOT BUILDING UP AS FAST AS IT SHOULD HAVE. HE SAID HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE INITIAL CLIMB AND LAND. HE SAID HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. DURING THIS MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AT THE AIRPORT'S BORDER AND THE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF. THE PILOT SAID HE DECIDED TO RETURN AND LAND BECAUSE HE KNEW HE '...HAD HIT SOMETHING.' THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY WITHOUT ITS LANDING GEAR.
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: 168 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 104 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HUT KS at 7:40 am
- Destination: SLN Salinas KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,251 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 am from ICT, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.