Amateur-built 601 accident near Augusta, Kansas, October 9, 2024
On October 9, 2024 at about 10:34 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built 601, registered N601KM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Augusta, Kansas (Brady-Pippin Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2024 · about 10:34 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kansas · Brady-Pippin Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 601, built 2002
- Registration
- N601KM · registry record · serial MEISTE-1
- 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 during the landing roll, he inadvertently applied and removed engine power, which resulted in a loss of directional control of the airplane. He was unable to regain control of the airplane. The airplane exited the runway and struck a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, aft fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 284 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 284 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 315.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 20, 2024; 0.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru Stratus E81 (piston); 3,155 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SN20 Augusta KS at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SN20 Augusta KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 2,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KAAO, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAAO 092254Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM CLR 28/11 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP141 T02830111=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2025. 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 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 2 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.
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.