Piper PA-38-112 accident near Gardner, Kansas, August 27, 1994
On August 27, 1994, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2409G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gardner, Kansas (Gardner Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
undetermined. A factor associated with the accident is a fence at the off-airport landing site.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1994
- Place
- Gardner, Kansas · Gardner Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2409G · registry record · serial 38-79A0519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING HIS THIRD SHORT/SOFTFIELD TAKEOFF FROM THE 3220' TURF STRIP WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 15-20' AGL. THE PILOT SAID HE DECIDED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD, BUT THAT JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER. THE AIRPLANE FLEW FOR A SHORT DISTANCE MORE, CONTACTED THE GROUND, AND THEN STRUCK A FENCE. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. AMPLE, VISUALLY UNCONTAMINATED FUEL REMAINED ABOARD POSTACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR AND THE FAA, THE AIRPLANE HAD A PREVIOUS, UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER THAT RESULTED IN A SUCCESSFUL OFF AIRPORT LANDING WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE OR INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,396 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 1994; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IXD Olathe KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,220 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from IXD, 3 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.
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.