Amateur-built CHALLENGER II SPEC. accident near Maize, Kansas, April 27, 1992
On April 27, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II SPEC., registered N4268R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maize, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING SPEED WHILE TURNING FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT AVIATION EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Maize, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II SPEC. CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N4268R · no longer on the register · serial CH20690W0541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING AN OUT OF CONTROL DESCENT. THE PILOT HAD OVERSHOT THE TURN TO FINAL AND WAS PERFORMING A 360 DEGREE TURN TO ALIGN HIMSELF WITH THE RUNWAY WHEN HE REALIZED HIS BANK ANGLE WAS BECOMING STEEPER. HIS ONLY CLEAR MEMORY AFTER THAT WAS CLIMBING OUT OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER IMPACT.
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: student
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 71 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1991; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from ICT, 6 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.