Cessna CE-500 accident near Witchita, Kansas, April 26, 1983
On April 26, 1983 at about 7:54 pm local time, a Cessna CE-500, registered N22FM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Witchita, Kansas (Mid-Continent airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were 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
- April 26, 1983 · about 7:54 pm local time
- Place
- Witchita, Kansas · Mid-Continent
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna CE-500
- Registration
- N22FM · no longer on the register · serial 500-0229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING TAKEOFF. THE FUEL TANK IN THE RIGHT WING RUPTURED AND THE ACFT BURNED WHILE SLIDING TO A STOP. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT WAS WASHED AND THE THRUST REVERSER DOORS WERE POLISHED. AFTER THE SERVICE, THE REVERSER DOORS CIRCUIT BREAKERS WHICH HAD BEEN PULLED WERE NOT RESET. IT WAS COMPANY POLICY TO LEAVE CIRCUIT BREAKERS OUT THAT WERE PULLED DURING SERVICING. PRIOR TO FLT, THE ACFT WAS LOADED AND THE ENGINES STARTED. THE REVERSED UNLOCK LIGHTS ON BOTH REVERSER ANNUNCIATOR PANELS ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH THE CO-PLT AND ELECTED TO GO. HE PUSHED THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WHICH UNLATCHED THE LIGHT HOUSING AND PUT OUT THE 'UNLOCK' LIGHTS. AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE THE GEAR WAS RETRACTING THE ACFT YAWED RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. ALL OCCUPANTS EVACUATED AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT A CESSNA ACFT INVESTIGATOR OBSERVED THE TWO THRUST REVERSER CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN THE 'OUT', OPEN POSITION AND PARTIALLY COVERED BY A FLT CHART. BOTH THRUST REVERSERS WERE DEPLOYED.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,725 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 6,047 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,112 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 31, 1983; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JTI5-1A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MDW Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19L, 7,208 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ICT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.