Cessna L19 accident near Kennett, Missouri, September 15, 2019
On September 15, 2019 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1944 Cessna L19, registered N4584N, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Kennett, Missouri (Kennett Memorial airport). It was a personal 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 install the engine oil filler cap before the first flight of the day; his subsequent failure to conduct a preflight check before the accident flight, which resulted in his failure to note that the cap was not installed; and his improper landing flare during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a bounced landing and ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2019 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kennett, Missouri · Kennett Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L19 E, built 1944 · all L19s on the register
- Registration
- N4584N · registry record · serial 24565
- 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, during takeoff for the accident flight, which was the second flight of the day, he saw that the oil pressure was falling and realized it was likely due to his failure to install the engine oil filler cap after checking the oil during the first flight of the day. He did not conduct a preflight checklist before the accident flight. He subsequently made a precautionary landing at a nearby airport. During the landing, the airplane bounced, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane bounced again, skidded off the right side of the runway, and ground looped. The left wing struck the ground before the airplane stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. 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
- Aircraft servicing event during prior to flight defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,872.8 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 10, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,375.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-15 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M05 Caruthersville MO at 2:45 pm
- Destination: M05 Caruthersville MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KTKX
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.
Other NTSB records under N4584N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.