Beech 35 accident near Excelsior Spgs, Missouri, August 18, 1987
On August 18, 1987 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech 35, registered N3204V, was destroyed in an accident near Excelsior Spgs, Missouri (Excelsior Spring Mem. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 18, 1987 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Excelsior Spgs, Missouri · Excelsior Spring Mem. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3204V · no longer on the register · serial D-641
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY OVER THE RADIO STATING THAT THE ENG WAS LOSING POWER AND THAT SHE WAS ATTEMPTING AN EMERG LNDG AT EXCELSIOR SPRINGS ARPT. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, AFTER THE RWY WAS ASSURED, DUE TO THE INCURSION OF ANOTHER ACFT BACKTRACKING ON THE RWY, DIRECTLY IN HER PATH. OTHER WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT, EITHER BOUNCED OFF THE RWY SURFACE, OR ATTEMPTED A LOW PASS AT A SLOW AIRSPEED. IT THEN VEERED LEFT FROM OVER THE RWY, DRAGGING THE LEFT WING TIP OVER HIGH VEGETATION; THE ACFT THEN IMPACTED THE CULTIVATED SOIL, CARTWHEEL FASHION. EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO SUGGEST A POWERPLANT FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION. THE ENGINE SUMP SHOWED THAT THE OIL QUICK-DRAIN FITTING WAS LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE ENG HAD UNDERGONE AN OIL CHANGE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. AN ENG TEARDOWN AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITIES REVEALED THAT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DUE TO A LACK OF INTERNAL ENG COMPONENT LUBRICATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 414 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 276 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1987; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO10 Liberty MO at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,005 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from MKC, 22 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.