Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Harned, Kentucky 40144
Thursday, June 26, 2003 20:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger were returning from a vacation, and were 30 miles from their destination airport, when witnesses observed the airplane descending straight down, resembling a "World War II dive bomber airplane." The witnesses reported hearing the engine as if it was "wide open, at full power." They also reported weather at the time of the accident was "clear" and the visibility was "good". Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The airplane's in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Harned
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40144
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 374359N
Event Location Longitude 0862347W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2045 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID OWB
Elevation of weather observation facility 406
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 43
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 7500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15743
NTSB Notification Source SOUTHERN REGION
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Louisville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8953M
NTSB Number NYC03FA136
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 35-B33
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CD-712
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 17 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4127
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jim Staples
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Shepherdsville
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40165
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code SLN
Departure City SALINA
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BRY
Destination City Bardstown
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 12 2004 1:49PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --