Piper PA-32-300 accident near Richmond, Missouri, August 3, 1994
On August 3, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4854T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond, Missouri. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, reason undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4854T · no longer on the register · serial 32-7240091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING THE FORCED LANDING. FAA INSPECTORS COULD FIND NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THEY DID FIND THAT THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS HALF-WAY BETWEEN THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND THE LEFT TIP TANK.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 797 hours in all; 512 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 669 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1994; 17 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: TRX Trenton MO at 11:15 pm
- Destination: K84 Lee'S Summit MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from MKC, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.