# NTSB MKC83FA108: Beech D55, N725M, Gardner, KS, May 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1983, 05:10 local (10:10 UTC)
- Place: Gardner, KS
- Coordinates: 38.809291, -94.920585 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8093&lon=-94.9206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC83FA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33328/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83FA108

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 35 APPROACH & GIVEN THE KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN ARPT (23 MI NE) WX AS 900 FT BROKEN & 6 MI VISIBILITY. THE TOWER WAS CLOSED & THE CONTROL ZONE WAS NOT IN EFFECT RAISING MINIMUMS. THE PLT STATED HIS ILS GLIDE SLOPE INDICATION WAS ERRATIC AT THE OUTER MARKER SO HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE A STRAIGHT-IN LOCALIZER ONLY APPROACH. HE SAID HE DESCENDED TO MDA OF 1400 FT (335 FT AGL) BUT THE ACFT WAS STILL IN CLOUDS. HE SAID AS HE WAS CHECKING VHF CONTROL HEAD TO INSURE PROPER FREQ SETTING FOR ACTIVATING THE APPROACH LIGHTS, THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND. INITIAL IMPACT WAS 1 MI SOUTH OF THE APCH END OF RWY 35 & ABOUT 100 YDS LEFT OF THE INBOUND ILS LOCALIZER COURSE. THE MDA IS INCREASED 100 FT WHEN THE CONTROL ZONE IS NOT IN EFFECT. NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ACFT'S ILS RECEIVERS OR #1 OBS WAS FOUND. A FLT INSPECTION OF THE ILS WAS SATISFACTORY. IN ADDITION TO 7 HOURS OF DUTY TIME ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLT, THE PLT HAD WORKED A NORMAL DUTY DAY ON 5/11 INVOLVING MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS & HAD RESTED 3-4 HRS PRIOR TO THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N725M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N725M-1985-10-16), registration cancelled 1985-10-16, S/N TE-674 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-674
- Airframe hours: 4935
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C3 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Robert L. Green
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 1983, 5 hours before
- Departed: SLN, SALINA, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IXD, Johnson Co. Industrial, runway 35, 7,339 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,428 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 13,328 as pilot in command, 277 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19830512018969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830512018969A), May 12, 1983: Beech D55, Gardner, KS, Substantial damage. Struck the ground short of the runway on a LOC approach. Indicates pilot failed to observe the mda in dense fog.

## Other investigations on N725M (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI73FEM01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEM01), Jul 6, 1972: Beech D55 (N725M), Lansing, MI, substantial damage

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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