Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Kinsley, Kansas, April 12, 1993
On April 12, 1993 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N9460N, was destroyed in an accident near Kinsley, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INITIATED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1993 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kinsley, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N9460N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35176
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOLD THE AIRPORT MANAGER THAT HE HAD TO RETURN TO HIS HOME BASE. THE MANAGER ADVISED THE PILOT NOT TO DEPART DUE TO MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT ASKED THE MANAGER TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR HIM. THE MANAGER COMPLIED AND AGAIN ADVISED THE PILOT NOT TO DEPART DUE TO THE WEATHER. THE MANAGER STATED THE PILOT WAS IN A VERY AGITATED STATE, AND TOLD THE AIRPORT MANAGER HE WAS GOING TO DEPART. THE MANAGER ADVISED THE PILOT TO FLY ALONG THE ROADS TO AVOID RADIO ANTENNAS BETWEEN THE DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS. THE MANAGER GAVE THE PILOT A OLD SECTIONAL CHART BECAUSE THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT HAVE ONE. SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT DEPARTURED, A WITNESS OBSERVED AN AIRPLANE OF SIMILAR COLOR AND DESIGN PASS LOW OVER HER TRUCK. SHE STATED THERE WAS A LIGHT MIST AT THE TIME. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND RIGHT WING LOW. THE PILOT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING SEVERE CARDIAC DISEASE BY THE PATHOLOGIST PERFORMING THE AUTOPSY.
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: 220 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8K7 Greensburg KS at 8:30 pm
- Destination: LIC Limon CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.