Beech A36 accident near Oberlin, Kansas, September 24, 1983
On September 24, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N797CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oberlin, Kansas (Oberlin Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- September 24, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oberlin, Kansas · Oberlin Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N797CC · no longer on the register · serial E-514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE WAS FLYING NEAR HIS RELATIVES' HOUSE WHEN HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PLT SUSPECTED THE MAGNETOS SINCE THEY HAD RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AGAIN WITH THE BOOST PUMPSON AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING SMOOTHLY. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO CHECK THE MAGS ON THE GROUND. DURING THE OPEN FIELD LANDING THE MAIN GEAR CAUGHT IN A RUT AND COLLAPSED. THE ACFT ALSO HIT A FENCEPOST DURING THE ATTEMPT TO TURN AND STOP.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,538 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1983; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K80 Oberlin KS at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.