Alon 415-A2 accident near Sabetha, Kansas, September 11, 1992
On September 11, 1992 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Alon 415-A2, registered N6555Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sabetha, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1992 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sabetha, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon 415-A2
- Registration
- N6555Q · registry record · serial A55
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED A CRUISE DESCENT TOWARD THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER REDUCING POWER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AND THEN STOPPED RUNNING AS THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE PILOT'S PREDETERMINED LOWER ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD OF MILO CROPS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET NORTH OF THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT BEFORE REDUCING THE AIRPLANE'S POWER AT THE START OF THE DESCENT. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE HAD APPROXIMATELY HALF ITS NORMAL FUEL LOAD. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING ON AUTO GAS WITHOUT AN STC. THE PILOT CONFIRMED THIS AND SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE AN AUTO GAS STC. THE AIRPLANE WAS OUT OF ITS REQUIRED 14 CFR PART 91 ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THREE YEARS. THE NEAREST FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CERTIFIED WEATHER REPORTING STATION WAS 57 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT FOR THAT LOCATION WAS 65 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND 49 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT RESPECTIVELY. THESE CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING.
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: 400 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 808 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1988; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Grant City Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RLA Grant City MO at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from TOP, 57 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.