Piper PA-28-161 accident near Hanover, Kansas, March 22, 1992
On March 22, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N135AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hanover, Kansas (Coufal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF EARLIER IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH AFTER LIFT-OFF. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hanover, Kansas · Coufal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N135AT · registry record · serial 28-7916222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND APPLIED BRAKES TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT STOP SO HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND RELEASED THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE IN GROUND EFFECT BUT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND AND STRUCK A FENCE POST. THE 1700 FOOT RUNWAY WAS SOFT DUE TO RECENT RAINFALL. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD JUST LANDED TO PICK UP AN ADDITIONAL TWO PASSENGERS FOR THE FLIGHT.
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: 103 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kansas Air Center
The flight
- Destination: MHK Manhattan KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.