Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Mediapolis, Iowa, August 30, 1982
On August 30, 1982 at about 2:59 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N56373, was destroyed in an accident near Mediapolis, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 30, 1982 · about 2:59 am local time
- Place
- Mediapolis, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N56373 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7335426
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE 1725 CDT WX BRIEFING THE PLT WAS INFORMED THAT THE KANSAS CITY AREA WOULD BE 1600 FT BROKEN, OCCASSIONAL 800 FT BROKEN, 3/4 MI VISIBILITY WITH THUNDERSTORMS & MODERATE RAIN WITH STRONG SURFACE WINDS ABOUT 35K. THE FORECAST WAS VALID TO 2200 CDT. THE PLT INDICATED HE DID NOT NEED ANY ENROUTE FORECASTS. THE BRIEFER STATED TO THE PLT THAT RADARWAS SHOWING AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & RAIN SHOWERS EXTENDING FROM 70 MI NW OF KANSAS CITY DOWN TO 60 MI NORTH OF KANSAS CITY & FROM THERE ON UP TO FT.DODGE, THE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NE AT 30K. THE PLT DEPARTED OLATHE, KS AT 2000 CDT. A WITNESS HEARD THE SOUNDS OF AN ACFT ENG DECREASING, INCREASING & THEN SILENCE. A WITNESS WHO HEARD THE ACFT PASS BY JUST BEFORE IMPACT STATED THAT THE WX AT THE TIME WAS MODERATE RAIN, APPROXIMATE 1 MI VISIBILITY, & INTERMITTENT LIGHTNING & THUNDER. PORTIONS OF EACH WING & THE HORIZONTAL TAIL SECTION WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 3/8 MI SOUTH OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.
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: 170 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,763 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 327 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying Country Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Olathe KS at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MLI Moline IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.