Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Wathena, Kansas, June 26, 1986
On June 26, 1986 at about 3:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered CGSMS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wathena, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- June 26, 1986 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Wathena, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- CGSMS · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7931240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACFT MANUAL, HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO FLY TO HIS DESTINATION IN THE USA. AS SUCH, HE FELT THAT NO REFUELING WAS NECESSARY WHEN HE LANDED AT HIS DESIGNATED AIRPORT-OF-ENTRY TO CLEAR CUSTOMS. THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL TWO MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION ARPT. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT FLT MANUAL, THE DESTINATION ARPT WOULD BE IN RANGE IF COMPUTATIONS WERE BASED ON: I.S.A., 18,000 FT CRUISE ALT, NO WIND, THE MIXTURE LEANED FOR 25 DEGREES ON THE RICH SIDE OF PEAK E.G.T., AND 65% TURBOCHARGED CRUISE POWER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE FLEW THE TRIP AT 3,000 FT WITH NO REGARD TO E.G.T READINGS.
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: 133 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 25, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GFK Grand Forks ND
- Destination: STJ St.Joseph MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.