Beech 35 accident near Belleville, Kansas, November 10, 1995
On November 10, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N9894R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belleville, Kansas (Belleville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot misjudging his approach to the runway. Factors relating to the accident were: the weather conditions, a sick passenger that diverted the pilot's attention, the snow covered terrain, and the pilot's decision not to execute the missed approach procedure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Kansas · Belleville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N9894R · no longer on the register · serial D-6450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CIRCLING FOR LANDING AFTER EXECUTING A NDB RWY 18 APPROACH. WHILE CIRCLING THE PASSENGER GOT SICK. THE PILOT CONTINUED IN THE PATTERN AND TURNED BASE AT 140 KNOTS. HE REPORTED A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT, AND WITH MAXIMUM POWER APPLIED THE AIRPLANE SANK IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE TO THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED TROUBLE DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE GRASS AND CONCRETE RUNWAYS. A LOCAL RESIDENT APPROX 2 MILES AWAY REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A SNOW BLIZZARD.
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: 2,692 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,508 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1995; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OD1 South Haven MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: TKO Mankato KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:17 am from CNK, 20 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.