Boeing A75N1(PT17) accident near Junction City, Kansas, June 4, 2011
On June 4, 2011 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1(PT17), registered N50052, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Junction City, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The degraded engine performance due to low compression on the cylinder and delayed ignition timing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2011 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Junction City, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1(PT17) · all A75N1(PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N50052 · no longer on the register · serial 75-1082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the initial climb after takeoff, the engine started losing power. The pilot believed the airplane was too far down the runway to abort the takeoff, so he continued the climb. Shortly after, the airplane impacted a tree and a house resulting in substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 6 cylinder had measured compression of 34/80 and that the ignition timing on the forward and aft bank of spark plugs was delayed resulting in a degradation of engine power. The airplane was loaded to within 150 pounds of the airplane's gross weight, and calculations of relevant meteorological data revealed that the density altitude was 3,350 feet.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,300 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 8,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,508 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R680-4P-B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K3JC Junction City KS at 7:15 pm
- Destination: K3JC Junction City KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 19,000 ft; a few clouds at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KFRI, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.