Beech 35-B33 accident near Harned, Kentucky, June 27, 2003
On June 27, 2003 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N8953M, was destroyed in an accident near Harned, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2003 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Harned, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N8953M · no longer on the register · serial CD-712
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were returning from a vacation, and were 30 miles from their destination airport, when witnesses observed the airplane descending straight down, resembling a "World War II dive bomber airplane." The witnesses reported hearing the engine as if it was "wide open, at full power." They also reported weather at the time of the accident was "clear" and the visibility was "good". Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
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: 2,960 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,127 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLN Salina KS at 7:00 pm
- Destination: BRY Bardstown KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from OWB, 43 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.