Ryan NAVION accident near Bismarck, Missouri, June 23, 2026
On June 23, 2026 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 1948 Ryan NAVION, registered N4583K, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bismarck, Missouri (Bismarck Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to remove the maintenance spacer before takeoff, which resulted in restricted flight control movement and a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2026 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bismarck, Missouri · Bismarck Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION, built 1948 · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4583K · registry record · serial NAV-4-1583
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane’s nose pitched up sharply and the airplane entered a steep climb. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain beyond the departure end of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot discovered that a plastic maintenance spacer, which had been used to hold the elevator in the up position during cleaning, remained installed on the control yoke shaft. The spacer restricted elevator control movement during takeoff, preventing the pilot from achieving normal flight control inputs and maintaining control of the airplane. The pilot reported 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,260 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,204 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 30, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,629.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-4 (piston); 6,958 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MO9 Miller MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,005 ft by 49 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from FAM, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFAM 231356Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM CLR 21/15 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP244 T02060150 $
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 WPR26LA229.