Beech C23 accident near Pratt, Kansas, June 15, 1985
On June 15, 1985 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6723C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pratt, Kansas (Pratt Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 15, 1985 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Pratt, Kansas · Pratt Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6723C · registry record · serial M-2369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS SECOND CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO THIS AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE REACHED TO RAISE THE FLAPS AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DRIFT. HE OVERCORRECTED AND WENT OFF LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER WHEN HE WENT THROUGH A WASH.
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: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 481 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1984; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K31 Wichita KS at 3:10 pm
- Destination: PTT Pratt KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ICT, 70 miles away
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.