Amateur-built 320 accident near Iola, Kansas, August 15, 2002
On August 15, 2002 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 320, registered N83WS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iola, Kansas (Allen County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the engine failure for undetermined reasons and the lack of a suitable landing area to execute a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2002 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iola, Kansas · Allen County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 320
- Registration
- N83WS · no longer on the register · serial 680
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane was destroyed during a forced landing after a total loss of engine power during a GPS approach to an airport. Inspection of the airplane revealed the presence of two gallons of fuel in the fuel system. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were noted.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 167 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 463 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2002; 323 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,685 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HUT Hutchinson KS at 3:30 pm
- Destination: K88 Iola KS
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from CNU, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.