Beech C23 accident near Sullivan, Missouri, March 15, 1988
On March 15, 1988 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N1986L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sullivan, Missouri (Sullivan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 15, 1988 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Missouri · Sullivan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N1986L · registry record · serial M-1843
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PIC ARRIVED AT HIS DESTINATION, DURING A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, HE CIRCLED THE UNFAMILIAR ARPT THREE TIMES, OBSERVING TREES ON BOTH ENDS, AND A CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 60 DEGREES TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. AFTER LANDING, AND DURING THE LDG ROLL OUT, HE FELT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY. HE ELECTED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT, ON THE SOFT SHOULDER, INSTEAD OF GOINT STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE TREES AND FENCE. WHEN LEAVING THE HARD SURFACE RNWY, THE LEFT GEAR STRUCK THE SOFT SURFACE, BROKE OFF, STRIKING THE WING, FLAP, THEN THE FUSELAGE NEAR THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR. THE PROPELLER AND THE WING TIP THEN STRUCK THE TERRAIN.
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
- Flight time: 94 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,175 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IXD Olathe KS at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 2,100 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:00 pm from COU
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.