East Kansas City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grain Valley, Missouri 64029
Wednesday, July 28, 1999 10:42 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1042
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAIN VALLEY
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64029
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EAST KANSAS CITY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3GV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 835
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID MKC
Elevation of weather observation facility 759
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 749
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1824
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N72409
NTSB Number CHI99LA262
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 Beech
Aircraft Model C-45H
Aircraft Series Identifier C-45H
Aircraft Serial Number AF-411
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 8 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 3700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HEAVY TIME AVIATION, LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4601 MANOR DIRVE
Aircraft Owner City SAINT JOSEPH
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64506
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 3GV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1042
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCI
Destination City KANSAS CITY
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 4400
Runway Width 44
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --