Commander C3C accident near Grain Valley, Missouri, June 4, 1992
On June 4, 1992 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Commander C3C, registered N136E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grain Valley, Missouri (Grain Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE JAMMED (KINKED) CHOKE PLATE CONTROL CABLE, WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED POWER AND COLLISION WITH RISING TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1992 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grain Valley, Missouri · Grain Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Commander C3C
- Registration
- N136E · registry record · serial 532
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CHOKE PLATE IN THE CARBURETOR WAS STUCK 3/4 CLOSED DUE TO A KINK IN THE CHOKE CONTROL CABLE NEAR THE CONTROL HANDLE IN THE COCKPIT. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 40 HOURS SINCE A MAJOR OVERHAUL COMPLETED AUGUST 15, 1991.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,286 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright OX-5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sangamon Packet Company
The flight
- Departed from: 3GV at 2:23 pm
- Destination: CNU Chanute KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.