Piper PA-24-250 accident near Weskan, Kansas, August 31, 1985
On August 31, 1985 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6903P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weskan, Kansas. It was a business 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
- August 31, 1985 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Weskan, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6903P · registry record · serial 24-2037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPTD A HIGH ENG OIL TEMPERATURE & LOW OIL PRESSURE WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A SIESMIC OPERATION SITE IN WEST KANSAS. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT CONTACTED A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 736 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 615 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,003 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1985; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1V5 Boulder CO at 9:20 pm
- Destination: 45V Cheyenne Wells CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from GDL, 21 miles away
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.