Piper PA-31-350 accident near Topeka, Kansas, December 10, 1985
On December 10, 1985 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N4NP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Topeka, Kansas (Phillip Billard airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- December 10, 1985 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Phillip Billard
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4NP · registry record · serial 31-7305083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N4NP DIVERTED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESTINATION FORBES FIELD TOPEKA,KANSAS TO BILLARD FIELD,B NM AWAY, DUE TO WEATHER. BILLARD ATCT ADVISED THE FLIGHT DURING INITIAL CONTACT, BEFORE N4NP REACHED THE ILS FOF, OF THE RUNWAY BRAKING ACTION. THE PILOT SAID BRAKING WAS REPORTED AS NIL. THE ATCT ALSO ADVISED THE FLIGHT, ALONG WITH THEIR LANDING CLEARANCE, THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 360 DEGREES AT 17 KNOTS AND TOWER VISIBILITY WAS 5/8 OF A MILE. THE CONTROLLER STATED THAT N4NP LANDED LONG AND RAN OFF THE SIDE OF RUNWAY 13 NEAR THE DEPARTURE END. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED SOFT TERRAIN BESIDE THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,705 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,996 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ICT Wichita KS at 5:55 pm
- Destination: FOE Topeka KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 5,099 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:17 pm from TOP
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.