Cessna A185F accident near Topeka, Kansas, April 2, 1987
On April 2, 1987 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N1467F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Topeka, Kansas (Forbes Field). It was a business 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
- April 2, 1987 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Forbes Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1467F · registry record · serial 18502845
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOWER STATED THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD BOUNCE AND WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON RUNWAY 3 WITH WINDS FROM 350 DEGREES AT 17 KNOTS, GUSTS TO 32 KNOTS. RUNWAY 3 WAS THE BEST RUNWAY TO USE AT THE TIME.
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: 3,783 hours in all; 1,459 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 1,459 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Line Builders, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3KM Wichita KS at 2:25 pm
- Destination: FOE Topeka KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,002 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 17 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:05 pm from FOE
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.