Beech 35A accident near Liberal, Kansas, April 4, 1987
On April 4, 1987 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Beech 35A, registered N1953V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liberal, Kansas (Liberal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1987 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Liberal, Kansas · Liberal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N1953V · registry record · serial D-8995
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC RPTD EXPERIENCING TURBULENCE ON TAKEOFF FROM LIBERAL AIRPORT. WINDS WERE PREVAILING FROM THE SOUTHEAT AT 15 KNOTS AS HE DEPARTED THE AIRSTRIP USING RUNWAY 19. AT ROTATION, THE PIC REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WING GOT TOO HIGH AND HE LOST CONTROL. THE PIC WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIFT AND PENETRATED A FENCE OFF THE AIRPORT. THE PIC LATER COMMENTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE USED ANOTHER WHERE THE RUNWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FAVORABLE TO THE WIND.
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: 292 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Liberal KS at 9:45 pm
- Destination: Pratt KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from GCK, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC87LA075.