Beech S35 accident near Gardner, Kansas, May 21, 1990
On May 21, 1990 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N5892J, was destroyed in an accident near Gardner, Kansas (Hayden airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1990 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Gardner, Kansas · Hayden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N5892J · no longer on the register · serial D-7882
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTED FIRE COMING FROM THE AREA AROUND HIS FEET, WHICH FILLED THE COCKPIT. HE COVERED HIS FACE WITH HIS ARMS & 'PULLED' THE THROTTLE, MIXTURE OR PROP CONTROL, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES BESIDE THE RUNWAY. THE PLT SAID HE KICKED OUT A WINDOW, CRAWLED OUT & ROLLED IN THE GRASS TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES ON HIS BODY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. A POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REVEAL THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
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: 5,000 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OJC Olathe KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Observation at 7:45 pm from OJC, 10 miles away
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.