No fatalities

PIPER PA32R accident at Kimberling City, MO, 10 Oct 2020

Kimberling City, MO, United States

On October 10, 2020, a PIPER PA32R operated by Kenneth Best was involved in an aviation accident near Kimberling City, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in his inadvertent departure with the tow bar connected to the nose wheel, and the low approach while returning to the airport, which allowed the tow bar to contact trees. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in his inadvertent departure with the tow bar connected to the nose wheel, and the low approach while returning to the airport, which allowed the tow bar to contact trees.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedContributed to outcome

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 10 Oct 2020 PIPER PA32R accident near Kimberling City, MO?

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in his inadvertent departure with the tow bar connected to the nose wheel, and the low approach while returning to the airport, which allowed the tow bar to contact trees.

Were there any fatalities in the 10 Oct 2020 PIPER PA32R accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 10 Oct 2020 involved a PIPER PA32R, operated by Kenneth Best, at Kimberling City, MO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in his inadvertent departure with the tow bar connected to the nose wheel, and the low approach while returning to the airport, which allowed the tow bar to contact trees.