# NTSB CHI02LA101: Beech C23, N2258L, Kahoka, MO, April 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2002, 20:32 local (Apr 5, 2002, 01:32 UTC) - Place: Kahoka, MO - Coordinates: 40.419147, -91.709342 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4191&lon=-91.7093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54482/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54482 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA101 ## Probable cause The improper soft field takeoff/procedure by the pilot. Contributing factors were the night condition and the inadequate planning/decision by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - soft field takeoff/procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain and postcrash fire during takeoff from a soft field with inoperative runway lights. The Airport Facility Directory listed the runway lighting for the airport as inoperative. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane lifted off at 65 knots approximately 1,500 feet down the 2,650 foot long runway. Takeoff performance data listed for the model of airplane indicates that the airplane has an approximate ground roll distance of 1,220 feet. The pilot described the flight controls as feeling mushy, a condition which is consistent with flight near stalling speed and high drag flight. He also stated that the airplane developed more airspeed and lift as it approached the end of the runway but the airplane seemed to not want to maintain flight so he chose to land the airplane. No mechanical malfunctions were noted. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2002, at 2032 central daylight time, a Beech C23, N2258L, operated by the Macon Flying Club Incorporated, was destroyed during impact with terrain and post impact fire following a precautionary landing. The flight departed from runway 28 (2,650 feet by 100 feet, grass) at Kahoka Municipal Airport (0H7), Kahoka, Missouri. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed from 0H7, at 2030, en route to the Macon-Fower Memorial Airport, Macon, Missouri. The pilot stated that he could not activate the runway lights for his takeoff. After liftoff, he was unable to climb, and to avoid hitting buildings along his flight path, he elected to land the airplane but did not retard to throttle. The airplane then touched down, slid through a security fence and into a propane gas facility, and burst into flames. The impact damage of the fence was the only damage sustained by the propane facility. The pilot reported the following in a written statement, "...I applied full power to the aircraft and proceeded down the runway. Approximately 1500 feet down the runway the aircraft developed lift and the airspeed indicator was at 65 kts. I pulled the aircraft off the ground to be in ground effect to develop more airspeed. The aircraft controls felt mushy or to wallow and I ran out of runway to put the aircraft down safely due to Vine St. at the west end of the runway. The aircraft seemed to develop lift and airspeed at the end of the runway, so I continued the flight. The aircraft controls again felt mushy like the plane did not want to maintain flight. I made the decision to put the aircraft down. After viewing the crash site, the aircraft touched down in an open field 30 ft east of the chain link fence surrounding Ferrell gas plant. The fence is approximately 100 yards west of Vine St. The aircraft came to rest after hitting the fence and an empty propane tank. The aircraft instantly burst into flames, the pilot door was jammed and would not open. I kicked the door open and crawled out of the plane and ran to the rear of the aircraft into the open field..." The Flight Training Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3, states, "...The following cues may be useful in recognizing the approaching stall: The feeling of control pressures is also very important. As speed is reduced, the resistance to pressures on the controls becomes progressively less. Pressures exerted on the controls tend to become movements of the control surfaces. The lag between these movements and the response of the airplane becomes greater, until in a complete stall all controls can be moved with almost no resistance, and with little immediate effect on the airplane." The Student Pilot's Flight Manual, discusses the drag effects and power requirements when operating at the "back side of the power curve." The Student Pilot's Flight Manual states, "The power curve gets its characteristic U shape because the airplane is subjected to two types of drag. ...total drag is composed of parasite drag, which increases with airspeed, and induced drag, which becomes much stronger as the airplane slows up..." The grass blade length of runway 28 was approximately 2.5 inches. The takeoff distance data from grass surface is listed in the pilot operating handbook for short, dry, level grass runways. The data is predicated on a lift off speed of 65 kts and a speed of 74 kts at 50 feet agl. Takeoff distance data shows a ground roll distance of 1,220 feet at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius with a 0 knot headwind component at a gross airplane weight. The Airport/Facility Directory information for 0H7 states that low intensity runway lighting for runway 10-28 is indefinitely out of service. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction failure with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2258L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2258L-2002-08-29), registration cancelled 2002-08-29, S/N M-1893, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M1893 - Airframe hours: 3987 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Macon Flying Club Incorpoarted - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: 0H7, Kahoka, MO - Destination: K89, Macon, MO - Airport: 0H7, Kahoka Municipal, runway 28, 2,650 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 4, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 115 total, 40 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: EOK, 13 nm away ## 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 20020405007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020405007639A), Apr 5, 2002: Beech C23, Kahoka, MO, No damage. (-23) The pilot, mark shawn thomas, attempted a takeoff from runway 28, Kahoka Municipal Airport (0H7), Kahoka, Missouri at 1927 on Friday, April 5, 2002 in a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54482. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airport Information (item 2, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information-Master.PDF - Flight Training Handbook (item 3, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Training%20Handbook-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Flight Manual (item 4, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Flight%20Manual-Master.PDF - Airplane Performance Data (item 5, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Performance%20Data-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.