- Date
- July 28, 1999, 10:42 local (15:42 UTC)
- Place
- Grain Valley, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N72409Beech C-45H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990728010059A
- Case key
- 46904
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the failure of the pilot to use the tailwheel lock on takeoff, creating a condition where it was not possible for the pilot to maintain directional control. Factors were the unlocked tailwheel and the ditch.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff, the aircraft departed the prepared runway surface and impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway. During a post accident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the tailwheel was not in the locked position. No anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition.
Factual narrative
On July 28, 1999, at 1042 central daylight time, a Beech C-45H, N72409, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage after a loss of directional control on takeoff roll, on runway 27 (4,400 feet by 44 feet, dry asphalt), at the East Kansas City Airport, Grain Valley, Missouri. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to the Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City, Missouri.
The aircraft departed the prepared runway surface and impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway.
During a post accident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the tailwheel was not in the locked position. No anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N72409
- Reported as
- Beech C-45H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AF-411
- Airframe hours
- 3,700
- Engine
- P&W R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Heavy Time Aviation, LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 1999 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- 3GV
- Destination
- MCI · Kansas City, MO
- Airport
- 3GV · East Kansas City Airport, runway 27, 4,400 × 44 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 666 total · 80 in this make and model · 304 as pilot in command · 37 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MKC, 19 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.