Piper PA-28-140 accident near Meriden, Kansas, May 13, 2013
On May 13, 2013 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1818J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Meriden, Kansas (Blackhawk Airport). 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 pilot electing to land at an airport with a runway environment that precluded a go-around with the tailwind weather conditions present which resulted in a runway excursion during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2013 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Meriden, Kansas · Blackhawk Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1818J · registry record · serial 28-24248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A tailwind condition existed at the destination airport and the pilot reported that a strong gust of wind occurred on short final, which pushed the airplane a few hundred feet down the runway. He said that the gust occurred after the decision point for a go-around because of power lines at the other end of the runway. A landing was attempted. The airplane exited the end of the runway, crossed a ditch, and came to rest on a street near the runway. Substantial spar damage occurred during the runway excursion. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions associated with the flight. Canceling "the flight altogether because of weather" was a safety recommendation made by the pilot.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 103 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 17, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,907 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOP Topeka KS at 10:10 pm
- Destination: 81KS Meriden KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 1,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TOP
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.