Beech 58 accident near Ankeny, Iowa, December 3, 1998
On December 3, 1998 at about 11:00 am local time, a Beech 58, registered N7278R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ankeny, Iowa. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the elevator control system jammed for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 1998 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Ankeny, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N7278R · no longer on the register · serial TH-582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb the airplane descended into the terrain. The pilot said that when he attempted to rotate the airplane for liftoff, there was resistance on the yoke. He continued to say that as the airplane lifted off the resistance gave way and the airplane 'popped' into the air. He said that the airplane reached an altitude of about 25 to 50 feet above ground level prior to descending into the terrain. A post accident examination of the airplane failed to reveal the nature of the resistance. Control continuity was compromised behind the instrument panel during the impact sequence.
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: 1,431 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y42 at 11:00 am
- Destination: CID Cedar Rapids IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; scat at 100 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 am from DSM, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N7278R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.