Piper PA-32-300 accident near Shell Knob, Missouri, December 5, 1992
On December 5, 1992 at about 11:52 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4152W, was destroyed in an accident near Shell Knob, Missouri (Turkey Mountain Estates airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING OF THE LANDING FLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 1992 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- Shell Knob, Missouri · Turkey Mountain Estates · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4152W · registry record · serial 32-40223
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO THE LACK OF SHOULDER HARNESSES, HE WAS THROWN FORWARD DURING THE LANDING AND BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH TREES AND A RAVINE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD LANDED AT THIS AIRSTRIP BEFORE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, BUT NOT AT DUSK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 273 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 176 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1992; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IC5 Plainfield IL at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,740 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.