Beech 99 accident near Bowling Green, Missouri, June 21, 2008
On June 21, 2008 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech 99, registered N99NN, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Bowling Green, Missouri (Bowling Green Muni airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 12 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The parachutist's failure to follow procedures/directives by not waiting to jump until the green jump light was illuminated, resulting in his collision with the airplane's tail. Contributing to the accident was the parachutist's impairment by the use of marijuana prior to performing a parachute jump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2008 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Bowling Green, Missouri · Bowling Green Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 12 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 99 · all 99s on the register
- Registration
- N99NN · registry record · serial U-10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that he was en route to a parachutist jump zone on the first of two planned jumps. Prior to the first jump, before he had slowed the airplane, or illuminated the green jump light, indicating that the parachutists had permission to jump, two of the parachutists prematurely jumped. The first parachutist stated that as soon as he jumped, he realized that the airplane was going faster than normal, and he tucked into a ball, barely missing the horizontal stabilizer. According to the other parachutists still aboard, the second jumper exited, and struck the horizontal stabilizer with his head. He never opened his parachute. All of the other parachutists and the pilot stated that the green jump light was never turned on. Post-accident toxicology testing was consistent with impairment of the fatally injured parachutist by recent marijuana use.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Following instructions › Passenger
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Illicit drug › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H19 Bowling Green MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:07 pm from PPQ, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 11 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N99NN on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 99 Airliner 34 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 23 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 23 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bowling Green Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Missouri 1,637 since 1982 · 216 in the last ten years
- Missouri 5,812 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DFW08LA166.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.