Taylorcraft BL-65 accident near Independence, Missouri, May 11, 1986
On May 11, 1986 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BL-65, registered N24491, was destroyed in an accident near Independence, Missouri (Independence Mem. airport). It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- May 11, 1986 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, Missouri · Independence Mem.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BL-65 · all BL-65s on the register
- Registration
- N24491 · no longer on the register · serial 1831
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH WITH AN INTENDED SOUTHWEST BOUND DEPARTURE. AFTER A LEFT TURN, WHILE ON THE CROSSWIND LEG, AND CLIMBING THROUGH 800 FEET, A BLAST OF COLD AIR AND WIND SHEAR HIT THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE BOTTOM FELL OUT, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THAT, ON CLIMBOUT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND A HIGH NOSE ANGLE. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS BANKING IN A LEFT TURN, IT SUDDENLY DROPPED STRAIGHT DOWN, ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RECORDS AND REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECASTING CENTER, (NSSFC), KANSAS CITY, MO, INDICATE VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FROM 1000 C.D.T. TO 2300 C.D.T., WITH NO RECORD OF WIND SHEAR, STRONG WINDS OR A COLD FRONT REPORTED IN THE AREA OF INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL AIRPORT, MISSOURI.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,708 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 2,392 as pilot in command; 2,282 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1985; 141 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-170-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 31P Independence MO at 9:41 pm
- Destination: 63K Stilwell KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,570 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from MKC, 12 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.