Piper PA28 and Boeing 75 accident near New Century, Kansas, May 11, 2024
On May 11, 2024 at about 6:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA28 (N3574C) and Boeing 75 (N234X), were involved in the same accident near New Century, Kansas (New Century Air Center airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inability of the Boeing 75 pilot to anticipate that the Piper would stop earlier on the taxiway which resulted in the on-ground collision.
The inability of the Boeing 75 pilot to anticipate that the Piper would stop earlier on the taxiway which resulted in the on-ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2024 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- New Century, Kansas · New Century Air Center · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA28 161, built 1979 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N3574C · registry record · serial 28-8016200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 75, built 1940 · all 75s on the register
- Registration
- N234X · registry record · serial 75-260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA28 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Boeing 75 reported that he taxied south on the taxiway toward the runway, using S-turns to clear for traffic, and followed about 200 ft behind a Piper airplane. He also noted that there was a light twin facing north conducting an engine run ahead of the Piper. The Piper pilot made a 180 degree turn on the taxiway and taxied north, which the Boeing pilot did not see. The pilot of the Piper reported he conducted an engine run-up along the west edge of the taxiway near the approach end of the runway, facing into the wind (north), as there was no defined run-up area at the end of the runway. The right wings of both airplanes collided which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. It is likely that the Boeing 75 pilot did not anticipate that the Piper in front of him would turn and stop to conduct a run-up so far north on the taxiway which led to the collision between the two airplanes.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 75 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Boeing 75 reported that he taxied south on the taxiway toward the runway, using S-turns to clear for traffic, and followed about 200 ft behind a Piper airplane. He also noted that there was a light twin facing north conducting an engine run ahead of the Piper. The Piper pilot made a 180 degree turn on the taxiway and taxied north, which the Boeing pilot did not see. The pilot of the Piper reported he conducted an engine run-up along the west edge of the taxiway near the approach end of the runway, facing into the wind (north), as there was no defined run-up area at the end of the runway. The right wings of both airplanes collided which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. It is likely that the Boeing 75 pilot did not anticipate that the Piper in front of him would turn and stop to conduct a run-up so far north on the taxiway which led to the collision between the two airplanes.
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 for the Piper PA28 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 507.3 hours in all; 98.4 in this make and model; 170.8 in the last 90 days; 57.8 in the last 30 days; 444.9 as pilot in command; 196.9 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 88.9 hours in all; 40.5 in this make and model; 22.5 in the last 90 days; 8.6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,895.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 6,325 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KIXD New Century KS at 6:45 pm
- Destination: KEMP Emporia KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 7,339 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KIXD
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIXD 111853Z 30007G15KT 10SM CLR 25/06 A2998
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Boeing 75 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › (general) › (general) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30,500 hours in all; 253 in this make and model; 2.1 in the last 90 days; 2.1 in the last 30 days; 27,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 680 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KIXD New Century KS at 6:45 pm
- Destination: KIXD New Century KS
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (N234X) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot / Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3574C on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,621 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- N234X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing 75 18 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G 133 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming 680 · as the NTSB recorded it
- New Century Aircenter Airport · nearest airport
- New Century Aircenter Airport · departed from
- Emporia Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Kansas 1,147 since 1982 · 149 in the last ten years
- Kansas 5,745 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA196.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.