Cessna L19 accident near Benton, Kansas, March 11, 2019
On March 11, 2019 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1957 Cessna L19, registered N4431C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Benton, Kansas (Lloyd Stearman Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in impact with trees and a house.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2019 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Benton, Kansas · Lloyd Stearman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L19 E, built 1957 · all L19s on the register
- Registration
- N4431C · no longer on the register · serial 24549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction toward a commercial certificate in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while practicing a power-off 180° approach, upon landing, the airplane veered sharply right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, impacted a tree, and then came to rest after impacting a house. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, an automated weather reporting station located 5 miles west of the accident site reported that the wind was from 080° at 4 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,956 hours in all; 298 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 8.3 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,660 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 11, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 1,435 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1K1 Benton KS at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 1K1 Benton KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KAAO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 26, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.