Amateur-built THE BLUE MAX accident near Lawrence, Kansas, August 25, 1984
On August 25, 1984 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built THE BLUE MAX, registered N1915S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawrence, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 25, 1984 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrence, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THE BLUE MAX THE BLUE M
- Registration
- N1915S · no longer on the register · serial SS-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, PLT NOTED RISING OIL TEMP AND DECREASING OIL PRESS, AND ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECUATIONARY LANDING IN OPEN ALFALFA FIELD. DURING LANDING FLARE, ACFT STALLED, RIGHT WING DROPPED THEN LEFT WING DROPPED TO GROUND CONTACT. ENGINE EXAM DISCLOSED NO FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 450 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1984; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 790 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K34 Gardner KS at 2:30 pm
- Destination: FOE Topeka KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
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.