Piper PA-28-180 accident near Springfield, Missouri, May 15, 1992
On May 15, 1992 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9270J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Missouri (Springfield Regional). It was an instructional 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 IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A DOWNWIND LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1992 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Missouri · Springfield Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9270J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD BEEN ISSUED WIND INFORMATION OF 090 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS AND CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 14 (A CROSSWIND COMPONENT 50 DEGREES LEFT OF THE NOSE). THE PILOT REQUESTED RUNWAY 20. THE CONTROLLER REPLIED WINDS WERE 100 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS (A QUARTERING TAILWIND) AND CLEARED THE PILOT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 20. THE PILOT REPORTED A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING AS THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLARED FOR LANDING. THE RIGHT WING AND PROPELLER STRUCK 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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,029 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1992; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVO Bartlesville OK at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 2, 7,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 pm from SGF, 1 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.