Piper PA-32-260 accident near Manhattan, Kansas, August 19, 1982
On August 19, 1982, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3436W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manhattan, Kansas (Manhattan Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt. 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
- August 19, 1982
- Place
- Manhattan, Kansas · Manhattan Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3436W · registry record · serial 32-297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED MANHATTAN, KS AND FLEW TO MINNEAPOLIS, MN. AT MINNEAPOLIS, HE REFUELED WITH 10 GAL ADDED TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK. HE SAID BOTH MAIN TANKS WERE FULL, THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK WAS EMPTY, AND HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS 5 GAL IN THE LEFT AUXILIARY TANK. ON HIS RETURN FLIGHT TO MANHATTAN, HE USED ALL OF THE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND WAS FEEDING FROM THE LEFT TANK WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 4 MILES FROM MANHATTAN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. A LANDING WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT MAIN TANKS. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT MAIN TANK POSITION.
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: 178 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,115 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 190 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Minneapolis MN at 4:24 pm
- Destination: MFR Medford OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from MHK, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.