Cessna 182C accident near Wamego, Kansas, May 17, 1987
On May 17, 1987 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N8789T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wamego, Kansas (Wamego airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- May 17, 1987 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wamego, Kansas · Wamego · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8789T · registry record · serial 52689
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC HAD BEEN AIRBORNE IN THE LCL AREA TO LET PARACHUTE JUMPERS JUMP FM HIS ACFT. TO LOSE ALT QUICKLY THE PIC PERFORMED A PROLONGED SLIP. ON THE FINAL APP THE ENG QUIT AND ALT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO REACH THE RWY FOR LNDG. THE OFF ARPT LNDG WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PIC STATED THAT THE POSS CAUSE OF THE ACC WAS IMPROPER FUEL FLOW RESULTING FM THE SLIP AND THE ABBORMAL ATTITUDE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IT WAS ALSO IMCUMBANT UPON THE PIC FOR A SAFE LNDG TO HAVE SELECTED THE PROPER FUEL POSN BY REFERRING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CAUTIONS ABT PROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONING. FUEL SELECTOR ON 'BOTH' IS REQUIRED FOR ALL BUT STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSND TO 'OFF' DURING INSP OF THE ACFT AND 10 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RT TANK. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 209 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,026 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1987; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bill Dawes Aviation,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 69K at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 69K
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,170 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from TOP, 30 miles away
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.