Beech 19 accident near Columbia Station, Ohio, July 9, 2019
On July 9, 2019 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1975 Beech 19, registered N9161S, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Columbia Station, Ohio (Columbia airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to see and avoid tall grass along the side of the runway during the takeoff roll, which resulted in his loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2019 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia Station, Ohio · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 19 B19, built 1975 · all 19s on the register
- Registration
- N9161S · registry record · serial MB-785
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane "did not gain altitude normally." About midfield, the airplane had climbed only a few feet, and the right wing hit tall grass that outlined the 40-ft-wide runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the airplane's wingspan was 32 ft 9 in. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 73.6 in this make and model; 20.7 in the last 90 days; 3.5 in the last 30 days; 162 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 22, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,290 hours in all; 65 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command; 1,810 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 30, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 3,941 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4G8 Columbia Station OH at 7:15 pm
- Destination: LPR Lorain/Elyria OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,152 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KCLE, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 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 | 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.