Pietenpol AIRCAMPER accident near Gardner, Kansas, July 19, 2023
On July 19, 2023 at about 11:15 am local time, a 2000 Pietenpol AIRCAMPER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N34KP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Gardner, Kansas (Gardner Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to lead fouling of a spark plug.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2023 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Gardner, Kansas · Gardner Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pietenpol AIRCAMPER, built 2000, amateur-built · all AIRCAMPERs on the register
- Registration
- N34KP · registry record · serial 6
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine started to run rough. The pilot reversed course back toward the departure airport when the roughness increased and then the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder spark plug’s firing end contained hard, cinder-like deposits, consistent with lead fouling. When tested, the No. 3 cylinder spark plug did not spark; however, after it was cleaned, the spark plug functioned normally. No other mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he used 100LL aviation fuel in the engine. It is likely that the loss of power was due to the lead fouling on the No. 3 cylinder spark plug.
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 enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 780 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 734 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 10, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 340.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 14, 2022; 18.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford Conversion / (piston); 340 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K34 Gardner KS at 11:05 am
- Destination: C37 Brodhead WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 2,399 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:59 am from KIXD, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIXD 191059Z 07006KT 10SM CLR 22/21 A2992 RMK AO2 T02220211
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA313.