Piper PA-24 accident near Buffalo, Missouri, January 27, 1993
On January 27, 1993 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N5322P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1993 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N5322P · registry record · serial 24-365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE FROM PONTIAC, MICHIGAN TO SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. APPROXIMATELY 30 NM NORTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD HE RADIOED TO SPRINGFIELD APPROACH HE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WANTED DIRECTIONS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. HE WAS GIVEN A VECTOR TO THE BUFFALO AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED ABOUT 1/2 MILE SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, GASCOLATOR, OR ON THE GROUND AROUND THE FUEL TANKS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,666 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,609 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 6:10 pm
- Destination: SGF Springfield MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:41 pm from SGF, 27 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.
Other NTSB records under N5322P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.