Cessna 500 accident near Topeka, Kansas, June 9, 1982
On June 9, 1982 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 500, registered N981EE, was involved in an accident near Topeka, Kansas (Phillip Billard airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1982 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Phillip Billard
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 500 · all 500s on the register
- Registration
- N981EE · no longer on the register · serial 500-0005
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN A PASSENGER WAS BOARDING THE AIRCRAFT, SHE INADVERTENTLY RELEASED THE LATCH THAT HELD THE DOOR OPEN. THE DOOR SWUNG TOWARD THE CLOSED POSITION, STRUCK THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER'S FOOT, AND SEVERED THE TENDON. THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA AND THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 GUSTING 20 KNOTS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,385 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,850 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT15D-1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ryan Aviation CORP
The flight
- Destination: Wichita KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from TOP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.