Beech 23 accident near Excelsior Spr, Missouri, June 7, 1998
On June 7, 1998 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2302Q, was destroyed in an accident near Excelsior Spr, Missouri (Excelsior Springs Memoria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadequate preflight planning by the pilot in command and exceeding the maximum gross weight for the aircraft. A factor was the berm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1998 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Excelsior Spr, Missouri · Excelsior Springs Memoria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2302Q · no longer on the register · serial M-368
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated a short field takeoff procedure by holding the brakes until full power had been obtained by the engine. Approximately 1,200' down the runway the pilot reached the normal rotation speed, 68-70 knots, and noticed the plane would not become airborne. The pilot decided that the aircraft would not clear a tree line, height between 40' and 50', that was off the end of the runway and aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the aircraft overshot the end of the runway, impacted a large mound of dirt past the end of the runway, and tore the left and right main gears from the wings. Both of the fuel tanks were compromised and a post impact fire started. When the aircraft came to a rest, the occupants evacuated from the aircraft with minor injuries. Post accident investigation showed that the aircraft was operating over maximum allowable gross weight. The aircraft's two wing fuel tanks were completely filled before takeoff and the flight had four occupants aboard. In a telephone conversation with the pilot, the piloted stated that he did not complete a weight and balance calculation or compute takeoff performance as a part of his preflight activities.
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: 518 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 518 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3EX
- Destination: MHL Marshall MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,000 ft by 47 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:22 pm from MCI, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.