Cessna 414A accident near Olathe, Kansas, December 25, 1986
On December 25, 1986 at about 4:49 am local time, a Cessna 414A, registered N414LL, was destroyed in an accident near Olathe, Kansas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 25, 1986 · about 4:49 am local time
- Place
- Olathe, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N414LL · registry record · serial 414A0627
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A CHARTER FLT AND, AS SUCH, HE DECIDED TO ATTEMPT THE LOC 17 APCH TO OLATHE EVEN THOUGH THE AREA WAS FORECASTING ZERO-ZERO CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERS DURING THE FLT IS BRACKETING THE LOC AND READING 1,600 FT ON THE ALTIMETER.SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT FURTHER STATED, HE REMEMBERS BEING ON THE GROUND INSIDE THE WRECKAGE, MITIGATING THE INJURIES SUFFERED AND TRYING TO STAY WARM. A POST-ACCIDENT INVEST REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS TO THE LEFT OF THE LOCALIZER COURSE WHEN IT STRUCK TWO TREES 12 FT AGL (1,062 FT MSL), WHILE IN A 30 DEG RIGHT BANK. THE ACFT MADE A FLAT 360 RIGHT PIROUETTE OVER SOME SMALL TREES, TEARING OFF THE LEFT WING BEFORE IMPACTING THE GRND AND SLIDING APRX 600 FT. A POST-CRASH FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE RIGHT WING TANK BUT IT EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. A DOT FAA OPERATIONAL FLT TEST FOUND THE LOCALIZER TO BE WITHIN LIMITS. A LEAK CHECK OF THE ACFT STATIC SYSTEM AND A BENCH CHECK OF BOTH ALTIMETERS WERE SATISFACTORY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,117 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 243 in the last 90 days; 3,902 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,403 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 24, 1986; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB9 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: IRK Kirksville MO at 4:04 am
- Destination: OJC Olathe KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from MKC, 20 miles away
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.