Beech 23 accident near Maryville, Missouri, July 2, 2016
On July 2, 2016, a 1963 Beech 23, registered N8704M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Maryville, Missouri (Rankin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines on approach during landing, resulting a power line strike, uncontrolled descent, and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2016
- Place
- Maryville, Missouri · Rankin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 NO SERIES, built 1963 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N8704M · registry record · serial M-488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that on final approach to runway 17, he was "distracted" by the runway composition and dimensions. The pilot reported that he identified the high tension power lines just before impact. He recalled that when he saw the power lines he "pulled up" in an attempt to climb, however it was too late, the propeller and engine cowl struck the power lines and the airplane slid down the power line wires toward the ground and came to rest in a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the cabin, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the airplane during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. The Airport/Facility Directory states the dimensions and composition of the runway, displaced threshold and the high tension power lines as: The first 630 feet of the runway is gravel and turf, and the width is 60 feet. The next 1300 feet of runway is a 14 foot wide section of concrete with 18 feet of turf on both sides of the concrete. The final 1120 feet of runway is a 12 to 25 foot wide section of gravel and asphalt chips, with 12.5 to17.5 feet of turf on both sides of the gravel and asphalt chips. The displaced threshold is marked with 5 tires on each side of the runway. High tension power line wires are about 1200 feet north of the runway threshold and do not have any safety markings. The power lines that the airplane struck intersect and cross the approach end of runway 17 at approximately 30 degrees. Furthermore, the power lines are depicted on the FAA Aeronautical Chart for the airport.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 463 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 23, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,356.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 23, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,302 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D2A (piston); 3,390 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVK Centerville IA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 78Y Marryville MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,050 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KFNB, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.