Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Atchison, Kansas, September 17, 1991
On September 17, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4795T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atchison, Kansas (Amelia Earhart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE A MISJUDGED APPROACH BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, AND COMPLACENCY ON THE PART OF THE FAA INSPECTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Atchison, Kansas · Amelia Earhart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N4795T · registry record · serial 28R7235110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS ON CFI CHECKRIDE WITH FAA INSPECTOR. INSPECTOR RETARDED THROTTLE TO IDLE AND ASKED PILOT TO DEMONSTRATE AND DESCRIBE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. PILOT EXECUTED THE APPROACH TO A RUNWAY AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, AND SAID '...AFTER TURNING FINAL, IT LOOKED LIKE WE MAY NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY WITHOUT ADDING POWER.' PILOT ADDED POWER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS 50 TO 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. AIRCRAFT MADE HARD LANDING 50 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 45 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crouch Avaition, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MCI Kansas City MO at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,000 ft by 48 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.