Beech 35C accident near Manhattan, Kansas, June 4, 1988
On June 4, 1988 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Beech 35C, registered N5878C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manhattan, Kansas (Marshal Aaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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
- June 4, 1988 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Manhattan, Kansas · Marshal Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35C · all 35Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5878C · no longer on the register · serial D-2834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ARRIVING AT THE ORIGINAL DESTINATION APT, THE PIC DECIDED ON AN ALTERNATE, NEARBY AIRPORT, DUE TO CONFUSION REGARDING RUNWAY CONDITIONS AT THE ORIGINAL DESTINATION APT. FLYING TO HIS ALTERNATE, HE ERRONEOUSLY LINED UP AT A MILITARY AIRPORT LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HIS INTENDED LANDING SITE. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE WRONG FIELD, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS TOO HIGH SO MADE DESCENDING TURNS AT A LOW POWER SETTING. UPON ADDING POWER TO STOP THE DESCENT, THE ENGINE QUIT ABRUPTLY AND AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT ON A BOULDER STREWN FIELD, THE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF, THEN A COW WAS STRUCK. THE COW PREVENTED THE ACFT FROM CAREENING DOWN A RAVINE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTION OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING ACCORDING TO CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS.
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: 231 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 147 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO85 Harrisonville MO at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 3JC Junction City KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from MHK, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.