Casualties unknown

1995-02-18: Beech 23 (N833KS) — Hutchinson, KS

Hutchinson, KS, US

On February 18, 1995, a Beech 23 (registration N833KS) was involved in an aviation accident near Hutchinson, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: inadequate preflight planning by the pilot. Contributing factors to this accident were the pilot selecting the wrong runway for takeoff and the tailwind condition. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot recounted an intersection takeoff with a 10-15 knot tailwind, citing slow airspeed buildup. After aborting initial climb and then deciding to continue, the airplane struck a fence, losing its landing gear, and landed without gear.

Incident Details

A pilot initiated an intersection takeoff with a reported tailwind of 10 to 15 knots. During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed that airspeed was not increasing as expected. He made the decision to abort the initial climb and land. However, he soon realized that stopping the aircraft before the end of the runway was not possible, and he opted to continue the takeoff. During this maneuver, the airplane collided with a chain-link fence situated at the airport's border. The impact caused the landing gear to break off from the aircraft.

Pilot Account

The pilot stated that after the collision, he knew he had hit something and decided to return to the airport for landing. The aircraft touched down on the same runway from which it had departed, but without its landing gear. The pilot did not report any other details regarding the aircraft type, registration, or environmental conditions beyond the tailwind.

Outcome

The airplane sustained damage to its landing gear due to the fence strike. The pilot successfully landed the aircraft without further incident. No information was provided about injuries or the extent of damage to the fence or the airplane's structure.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X02943. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.