Piper PA-32-260 accident near Latham, Kansas, November 8, 1990
On November 8, 1990 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5536J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Latham, Kansas. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1990 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Latham, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5536J · registry record · serial 32-999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING VFR CROSS COUNTRY, ON A DARK OVERCAST NIGHT, THE PLT SAID THAT HE HAD TO DESCEND DUE TO LOWERING CEILINGS, LIGHT RAIN AND DECREASED VISIBILITY. HE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES, DAMAGING THE LEFT LDG GEAR. HE ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN A PASTURE, WHICH RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL AIRFRAME 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,146 hours in all; 174 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 2,076 as pilot in command; 686 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E405 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8K2 Harper KS at 10:33 am
- Destination: 1K7 Fredonia KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 am from ICT, 40 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.