Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Augusta, Kansas, September 18, 2008
On September 18, 2008 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N6822J, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Augusta, Kansas (Augusta Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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
A loose oil line that resulted in a total loss of engine oil, causing the engine to cease.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2008 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kansas · Augusta Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N6822J · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was returning to his departure airport after a local area flight when the engine failed as he was preparing to enter the traffic pattern. The pilot stated in an interview that he noticed the engine revolutions per minute at the red line and that it could not be controlled by the propeller lever. The pilot declared an emergency and within approximately 30 seconds the engine failed and the propeller stopped. During the forced landing, while the pilot attempted to align the aircraft with the runway, the left wing contacted the ground and the aircraft slid to a stop near the end of the runway. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. An on-scene investigation conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine sump did not contain oil. It was determined that the oil cooler interconnect line on the left oil cooler was only finger tight, which resulted in an oil leak and subsequent loss of all engine oil. No other leaks were found and no other engine anomalies were noted.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute defining event
- Emergency descent initiated during enroute
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,140 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,596 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 2008
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KICT Wichita KS at 8:36 pm
- Destination: 3AU Augusta KS
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 18, 4,199 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KAIB, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.