Ryan NAVION accident near Blue Rapids, Kansas, July 4, 1985
On July 4, 1985 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4482K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blue Rapids, Kansas (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 4, 1985 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Blue Rapids, Kansas · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4482K · no longer on the register · serial NAV 4-1482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ENG LOST POWER AFTER A 30 MINUTE FLT AND A FORCED LANDING RESULTED IN AN OFF.-ARPT ACC.WITNESSES AT THE ACC SITE DID NOT FIND ANY FUEL IN THE TANKS OR EVIDENCE OF SPILLAGE OF FUEL. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES. A CERTIFIED REPAIR STATION INSPECTED THE CARBURETOR ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP & ELEC BOOST PUMP. THE BOOST PUMP FLOWED FUEL OUT THE OVERBOARD LINE WHEN AT STATIC THE PLT SAID A VISUAL PRE-FLT CHECK OF THE MAIN FUEL TANKS INDICATED APRX 28 GALS. HE ESTIMATED 10 GALS IN THE AUX TANK BASED ON A PREVIOUS CHECK.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,168 hours in all; 435 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 8,875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1984; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E185-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOE Topeka KS
- Destination: K09 Hebron NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.