# NTSB CEN25FA346: Cessna 340, N888MT, Kearney, MO, August 27, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: August 27, 2025, 11:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place: Kearney, MO
- Coordinates: 39.349484, -94.306452
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3495&lon=-94.3065&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Textron Aviation, Continental, FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200880
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25FA346
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200880/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA346

## Preliminary report

On August 27, 2025, about 1158 central daylight time, a Cessna 340A, N888MT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kearney, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed the Washington Regional Airport (KFYG), Washington, Missouri, about 1057, and cruised at 4,500 ft mean sea level towards the Midwest National Air Center Airport (KGPH), Mosby, Missouri. About 25 miles from the airport, the airplane descended and entered the traffic pattern for a left base turn. The airplane’s altitude was lower than normal for a standard traffic pattern and continued to descend. An eyewitness who lived near the accident site reported that the airplane appeared to be low and slow. The airplane’s left wing dipped down momentarily, returned wings level, then the left wing dipped again, and the airplane rolled left until it collided with terrain. Figure 1 ADS-B and Accident Site The airplane impacted an uncultivated soybean field about 0.6 miles from the approach end of runway 18. The initial impact point consisted of ground scars consistent with the left wing and airplane nose. A divot in the ground made by the right engine contained the right propeller assembly which had fractured at the crankshaft. The debris field was about 95 ft long, orientated along a 225° magnetic heading. The main wreckage consisted of the remainder of the airplane, to include the fuselage, empennage, tail section, both wings, both engines, and the left propeller. The main wreckage was aligned on a 120° magnetic heading. A postimpact fire had consumed a large portion of the fuselage. On-scene examination of the airplane found that the landing gear was down, and the flaps were retracted. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight controls. The cockpit instrumentation and electronic displays were largely destroyed in the fire. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N888MT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N888MT), registered now, S/N 340A0763, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A0763
- Year built: 1979
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Spelts Mark Warren Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KFYG, Washington, MO
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GPH, Midwest Ntl Air Center, runway 18, 5,502 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: KGPH, 1 nm away
- METAR: KGPH 271655Z AUTO 23005KT 10SM CLR 25/10 A3023 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250827021369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250827021369A), Aug 27, 2025: Cessna 340A, Excelsior Sprin, MO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. [privacy data omitted] Entered left downwind traffic pattern for kgph runway 18. Aircraft descended below normal altitude for base leg and during turn from…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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