Piper PA-28-180 accident near Lees Summit, Missouri, August 16, 1990
On August 16, 1990 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N55431, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lees Summit, Missouri (Mccomas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CHECK LIST NOT FOLLOWED, FUEL SYSTEM NOT UNDERSTOOD, AND FUEL BOOST PUMP SELECTOR IMPROPERLY USED, BY THE PIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1990 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lees Summit, Missouri · Mccomas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N55431 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7305383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 100 AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE SAID THAT HE TURNED THE AUXILARY FUEL PUMP ON, THEN OFF, AND THE ENGINE RAN FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEW SECONDS. AN EMERGENCY LDG, STRAIGHT AHEAD, WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES, THEN TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, BUT FUEL STARVATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE.
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: 160 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,189 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1990; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 9K4 Warrensburg MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GVW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.