Piper PA-31-350 and Beech U-21A-BH mid-air collision near Independence, Missouri, January 20, 1987
On January 20, 1987 at about 6:28 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-31-350 (N60SE) and Beech U-21A-BH (USA), were involved in a mid-air collision near Independence, Missouri. 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1987 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N60SE · no longer on the register · serial 31-8352010
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech U-21A-BH
- Registration
- USA · no longer on the register · serial LM-62
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · military rules
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-31-350 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO ACFT, A BEECH U-21A AND A PIPER PA-31-350, COLLIDED NEARLY HEAD ON AT 7000 FT MSL OVER INDEPENDENCE, MO. IN DAYLIGHT VMC CONDITIONS WITH A VISIBILITY OF 20 MILES. THE U-21 WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AND THE PA-31 WAS CLIMBING EASTBOUND TO AN UNDISCLOSED ALT ENROUTE TO SAINT LOUIS. BOTH ACFT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPERATING MODE-C TRANSPONDERS BUT THE CONTROLLER IN CONTACT WITH THE U-21 DID NOT OBSERVE THE CONFLICT AND TRAFFIC ADVISORIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE PA-31 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH VISUAL FLT RULES. THE U-21 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUMENT FLT RULES. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT EITHER ACFT TOOK ANY EVASIVE ACTION. THE CONFLICT ALERT SUBPROGRAM OF THE ARTS III TRACKING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT THE CONTROLLERS TO THE IMPENDING COLLISION AND THE TWO CONTROLLERS DID NOT OBSERVE ANY TARGET IN THE VICINITY OF THE DATA BLOCK REPRESENTING THE U-21. (SEE NTSB/AAR-88/01).
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech U-21A-BH final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO ACFT, A BEECH U-21A AND A PIPER PA-31-350, COLLIDED NEARLY HEAD ON AT 7000 FT MSL OVER INDEPENDENCE, MO. IN DAYLIGHT VMC CONDITIONS WITH A VISIBILITY OF 20 MILES. THE U-21 WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AND THE PA-31 WAS CLIMBING EASTBOUND TO AN UNDISCLOSED ALT ENROUTE TO SAINT LOUIS. BOTH ACFT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPERATING MODE-C TRANSPONDERS BUT THE CONTROLLER IN CONTACT WITH THE U-21 DID NOT OBSERVE THE CONFLICT AND TRAFFIC ADVISORIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE PA-31 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH VISUAL FLT RULES. THE U-21 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUMENT FLT RULES. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT EITHER ACFT TOOK ANY EVASIVE ACTION. THE CONFLICT ALERT SUBPROGRAM OF THE ARTS III TRACKING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT THE CONTROLLERS TO THE IMPENDING COLLISION AND THE TWO CONTROLLERS DID NOT OBSERVE ANY TARGET IN THE VICINITY OF THE DATA BLOCK REPRESENTING THE U-21. (SEE NTSB/AAR-88/01).
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 for the Piper PA-31-350 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,418 hours in all; 596 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 6,988 as pilot in command; 2,779 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1986; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO at 6:21 pm
- Destination: SUS St.Louis MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from MCI, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Beech U-21A-BH from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,983 hours in all; 217 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 4,912 as pilot in command; 1,125 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,729 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W T74-CP-700 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ANB Anniston AL at 3:44 pm
- Destination: FLV Ft. Leavenworth KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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 DCA87MA020.