Piper J-2 accident near Warrensburg, Missouri, August 8, 1993
On August 8, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper J-2, registered N17837, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrensburg, Missouri (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. A factor in the accident was the downdraft near the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Warrensburg, Missouri · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-2 · all J-2s on the register
- Registration
- N17837 · registry record · serial 1272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT USED RUNWAY 13 FOR TAKEOFF. THE RUNWAY IS 1400 FEET LONG AND HAS A TREE LINE ACROSS THE DEPARTURE END. THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THE DOWNDRAFT FROM THE WIND ACROSS THE TREE LINE PREVENTED A NORMAL RATE OF CLIMB. THE PILOT MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE TREE LINE, AND CRASHED IN A FIELD NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD NOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF UNDER THE EXISTING [WIND] CONDITIONS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 590 hours in all; 253 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 545 as pilot in command; 37 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 612 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1993; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-40 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.