Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Hays, Kansas, December 26, 1987
On December 26, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N83BC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hays, Kansas (Hays airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- December 26, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hays, Kansas · Hays · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N83BC · registry record · serial 28R7931173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY IFR FLT, PIC ENCOUNTERED FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS. HE THEN MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO AN ALTERNATE AIRFIELD. HE SAID THE ACFT ACCUMULATED SUBSTANTIAL ICING ON PROPELLER, WINGS AND WINDSHIELD. HE SAID FULL PWR WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT AND CONSIDERABLE VIBRATION WAS OCCURRING. THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE HAYS, KS, AIRPORT. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION ABOUT 7 MILES SHORT OF DESTINATION APT, RESULTING IN AN EMERGENCY LDG. THE PIC WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
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: 215 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,021 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI0-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUS St. Louis MO at 4:10 pm
- Destination: GDL Goodland KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:31 pm from RSL, 21 miles away
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.