Beech C-45H accident near Grain Valley, Missouri, July 28, 1999
On July 28, 1999 at about 3:42 pm local time, a Beech C-45H, registered N72409, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grain Valley, Missouri (East Kansas City Airport). It was a personal 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to use the tailwheel lock on takeoff, creating a condition where it was not possible for the pilot to maintain directional control. Factors were the unlocked tailwheel and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1999 · about 3:42 pm local time
- Place
- Grain Valley, Missouri · East Kansas City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-45H · all C-45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N72409 · no longer on the register · serial AF-411
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the aircraft departed the prepared runway surface and impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway. During a post accident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the tailwheel was not in the locked position. No anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 666 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 304 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1999; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3GV at 3:42 pm
- Destination: MCI Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,400 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from MKC, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI99LA262.