Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A accident near Kansas City, Missouri, August 27, 1989
On August 27, 1989 at about 6:28 pm local time, a Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A, registered N63884, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kansas City, Missouri (Richards Gebaur airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE CONTROL TOWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY TOWER PERSONNEL, AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE VEHICLE DRIVER. THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1989 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Kansas City, Missouri · Richards Gebaur · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A
- Registration
- N63884 · registry record · serial 1833
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS GIVING 'RIDES' TO THE OWNER'S FAMILY. HE STOPPED IN A NORTHERLY DRCTN AT/NEAR THE RGT SIDE OF THE TWY TO CHANGE PASSENGERS (PAX). AFTER THE PAX CHANGE, HE CONTACTED GND CTL & OBTAINED CLNC TO TAXI FOR ANOTHER TAKEOFF. HE HAD LIMITED FWD VISIBILITY IN THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT. TO TAXI, HE ELECTED TO ANGLE THE ACFT TO THE LEFT ONTO THE TWY, THEN TURN RGT TO S-TURN & CLR HIMSELF DWN THE TWY. AS HE BGN TAXIING, 2 CAMOUFLAGED TUGS WITH AMMO TRAILERS WERE COMING DOWN THE TWY FM THE OPPOSITE DRCTN. AS THE ACFT ANGLED ONTO THE TWY, THE RELATIVE PSN OF THE VEHICLES REMAINED OFF THE NOSE OF THE ACFT & THE PLT DID NOT SEE THEM. THE 1ST VEHICLE DRIVER STOPPED & TRIED TO CONTACT GND CTL. HE THEN TRIED TOTAKE EVASIVE ACTN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT'S LEFT WING HIT THE 1ST VEHICLE & THE PROP HIT THE AMMO TRAILER. THE ACDNT OCCURRED ON A JOINT-USE MILITARY/CIVILIAN ARPT. THE PLT & VEHICLE DRIVERS WERE UNDER JURISDICTION OF GND CTL & IN VIEW OF THE CTL TWR. THE OPERG PROCEDURES HAD MILITARY & CIVILIAN TRAFFIC ON DIFFERENT FREQS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,205 hours in all; 608 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 13,895 as pilot in command; 9,850 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVW at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GVW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.