Piper PA-22-108 accident near Rose Hill, Kansas, April 9, 2003
On April 9, 2003 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N4860Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rose Hill, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to the failure of the left magneto and the pilot's failure to identify the malfunctioning magneto. A factor to the accident was the soft terrain condition encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2003 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Rose Hill, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N4860Z · registry record · serial 22-8436
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight the engine experienced a loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing into a hayfield. During the landing rollout the airplane nosed over after encountering a soft area of the field. In response to the loss of engine power, the pilot stated he applied carburetor heat and selected a different fuel tank with no effect on engine operation. An engine test run was performed and the engine would not operate on the left magneto. The left magneto was disassembled and the timing gear keeper was found laying loose in the case. The keeper, timing gear keyway slot, and magneto drive shaft were all worn. The timing gear and keeper were replaced with serviceable components and the magneto was reinstalled on the engine. The engine operated on both magnetos, with acceptable engine rpm drops when selected on the individual magnetos.
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
- Flight time: 1,564 hours in all; 549 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,510 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,876 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2002; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 13K Eureka KS at 8:50 pm
- Destination: K50 Derby KS
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from ITC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.