Beech 58 accident near Elkhart, Kansas, December 19, 1988
On December 19, 1988 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N18434, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkhart, Kansas (Elkhart 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
- December 19, 1988 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhart, Kansas · Elkhart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N18434 · no longer on the register · serial TH-863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN STRONG CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, THE PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE WINDS WERE GUSTING OVER 40 KNOTS, WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS OF 60 KNOTS.
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: 2,273 hours in all; 719 in this make and model; 2,236 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Midwest Corporate Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: 3KM Wichita KS at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 35 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.