Cessna 441 accident near Liberal, Kansas, December 13, 2022
On December 13, 2022 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna 441, registered N253SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Liberal, Kansas (Liberal Mid-America Regional airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, failure to set the parking brake, and his decision to exit the airplane with engines running to remove a wheel chock, resulting in the airplane’s unintended movement and subsequent collision with a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2022 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Liberal, Kansas · Liberal Mid-America Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 441, built 1982 · all 441s on the register
- Registration
- N253SB · registry record · serial 4410258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that, he had preflighted the airplane about 2 hours before his intended departure and asked ground crew to reposition the airplane. When the pilot was ready for departure, he reported that he did not do another preflight, but only walked around the nose of the airplane to get to the entrance door. After he started both engines, the airplane would not taxi forward. The pilot reported that he thought that he set the brakes, reduced both engines to an idle power setting, and exited the airplane. The pilot observed a chock on the airplane’s nosewheel, and after he removed the chock, the airplane began to move forward. He attempted to reboard the unoccupied airplane, however, was unable to and the airplane subsequently collided with a hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 10,240 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE331-ION (turboprop); 12,980 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE331-ION (turboprop); 12,980 hours total
- Operator: Lyddon Aero Center, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KLBL Liberal KS
- Destination: KLBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 2968.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from KLBL
Weather report (METAR): KLBL 140056Z AUTO 33010KT 10SM CLR M02/M08 A2968
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA072.