Beech 35-B33 accident near Lakin, Kansas, April 17, 1985
On April 17, 1985 at about 8:58 pm local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N5654K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakin, Kansas (Lakin airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- April 17, 1985 · about 8:58 pm local time
- Place
- Lakin, Kansas · Lakin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N5654K · registry record · serial CD-798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ATTAINED APRX 200 FT OF ALT AFTER TAKEOFF BEFORE THE ENG WAS HEARD CHANGING SOUND BEFORE THE POPPING & BACKFIRING BEGAN, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. AFTER ALL ENG SOUNDS CEASED THE ACFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY TO A GRASSY AREA OF THE ARPT & LANDED WITH THE LNDG GEAR & FLAPS FULLY RETRACTED. THE ACFT SLID APRX 180 FT FROM INITIAL IMPACT TO A STOP;AFTER ROTATING 180 DEGREES THE ACFT ENDED THE SLIDE FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. POST ACC EXAM REVEALED ALL ENG CONTROLS FULL FWD. THE ENG FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RT TANK. THE ACFT WAS RAISED AND TANKS DRAINED. THE RT FUEL TANK HAD.APRX 1 CUP OF FUEL IN IT. THE LEFT TANK HAD APRX 25 GALLONS. NO BREAKS OR LEAKS IN THE FUEL SYS WERE FOUND. THE FUEL LINES & FUEL CONTROL CONTAINED NO FUEL. THE ACFT WAS LAST SERVICED WITH FUEL ON 4/16/85, THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT STATED THAT NO FUEL WAS ADDED ON THE 17TH,THE DAY OF THE ACC.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,484 hours in all; 2,435 in this make and model; 252 in the last 90 days; 2,240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,818 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984; 1,190 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 36K Lakin KS at 8:57 pm
- Destination: DDC Dodge City KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 am from GCK, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.