Piper PA-38-112 accident near Catherine, Kansas, June 17, 1992
On June 17, 1992 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2363K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Catherine, Kansas. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PILOT AND AIRPLANE CLEARANCE OVER THE FENCE NOT ATTAINED BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1992 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Catherine, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2363K · registry record · serial 38-79A0593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PERFORMING TURNS AROUND A POINT, HIS GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE, WHEN HIS PASSENGER BECAME ILL. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A ROUGH PASTURE AREA NEAR THE HOME. THE ILL PASSENGER DEPLANED AND A RELATIVE OF THE PILOT ENPLANED. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED CLUMPS OF TALL GRASS AND RUTS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'I THOUGHT WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO BECOME AIRBORNE WHEN WE HIT A BIG RUTT, THIS SLOWED US DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY TO NOT ENABLE US TO BECOME AIRBORNE, BUT NOT SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP.' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE AIRPLANE FLY OVER A FENCE AT THE END OF THE 1/4 MILE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND ITS MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES STRUCK THE FENCE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION WHICH WOULD FACTOR SOD FIELD OPERATIONS INTO THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE CALCULATIONS.
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: 69 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,008 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Riches Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: HYS Hays KS at 1:15 am
- Destination: HYS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI92LA180.