Piper PA-28-160 accident near California, Missouri, July 7, 1993
On July 7, 1993 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5638W, was substantially damaged in an accident near California, Missouri (Phillips Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1993 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- California, Missouri · Phillips Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5638W · no longer on the register · serial 28-786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED AT A PRIVATE FIELD TO WAIT FOR AN APPROACHING STORM TO PASS OVER. WHEN THE WEATHER CLEARED, THE PILOT DEPARTED PHILLIPS'S FIELD. DURING CLIMB OUT, THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER, THE LANDING GEAR BRUSHED THE TOP LIMBS OF A LINE OF TREES, AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED ON A GRASSY HILLSIDE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES.
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: 613 hours in all; 492 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 568 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,832 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 1992; 161 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE Knob Noster MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from JEF, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.