Cessna 120 accident near Gardner, Kansas, June 17, 1982
On June 17, 1982 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N1993V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gardner, Kansas (Ko (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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1982 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gardner, Kansas · Ko (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N1993V · no longer on the register · serial 14204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER HITTING THE FENCE, IT TRAVELED ABOUT 37 YARDS BEFORE NOSING OVER IN AN ADJACENT WHEAT FIELD. THE FIELD WAS SOFT DUE TO RECENT RAINS. THE PILOT SAID THE 1300 FT RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH GRASS THAT WAS 4 TO 6 INCHES TALL. HE STATED THAT HE EXECUTED A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. REPORTEDLY, HE BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER ABOUT AN 800 FT ROLL, BUT SETTLED JUST PRIOR TO STRIKING THE FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST AT 8 GUSTING 14 KNOTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2400 FT.
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: 217 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 181 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,150 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 12 Gardner KS at 11:00 am
- Destination: Belton MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.