The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CHI91LA304 · Final report

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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 17, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 1991
Place
Atchison, Kansas · Amelia Earhart · cases near this airport · 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

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew2

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91LA304.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.