Independence Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Independence, Missouri 64057
Thursday, March 17, 1994 18:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was attempting a takeoff from a soft field about one mile south of the Independence Memorial Airport, Independence, Missouri. During the takeoff attempt, the right main landing gear and right wing struck the ground after lift-off. The airplane then spun around and slid into the river. The previous day the airplane had experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot had made a forced landing in the field without damage to the airplane. The number 1 cylinder was changed in the field, and the pilot was attempting to fly the airplane out when the accident occurred.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

were the premature lift-off, and the failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City INDEPENDENCE
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64057
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3IP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 170
Airport Elevation 750
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 105
Weather Observation Facility ID MKC
Elevation of weather observation facility 759
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1187
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 18 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9396A
NTSB Number CHI94LA114
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 150-78550
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 92
Airframe Hours 3492
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VESTA AILSHIRE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20000 RD, MIZE RD.
Aircraft Owner City INDEPENDENCE
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64057
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HELVERSON, DONALD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2113N. 9TH STREET
Operator City BLUE SPRINGS
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 64015
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --