Beech BE77 accident near Des Moines, Iowa, November 17, 1983
On November 17, 1983 at about 9:09 pm local time, a Beech BE77, registered N67118, was substantially damaged in an accident near Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines Muni airport). It was an instructional 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
- November 17, 1983 · about 9:09 pm local time
- Place
- Des Moines, Iowa · Des Moines Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE77
- Registration
- N67118 · no longer on the register · serial WA-58
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED ON THE NOSE GEAR BOUNCED AND DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. DURING THE 2ND TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT WAS A STUDENT ENGAGING IN SOME SOLO LANDING PRACTICE. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE WAS HIGH ON THE FINAL APPROACH BUT DECIDED TO LAND ANYWAY. HE WAS LANDING ON RWY 12R WITH THE WIND FROM 170 DEGREES AT 13 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,281 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 11, 1983; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DSM Des Moines IA at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12R, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from DSM
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.