Great Lakes 2T1A2 accident near Horton, Kansas, May 17, 1988
On May 17, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T1A2, registered N3502L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Horton, Kansas (Horton airport). 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
- May 17, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Horton, Kansas · Horton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T1A2 · all 2T1A2s on the register
- Registration
- N3502L · registry record · serial 0792
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC WAS EXECUTING TOUCH AND GO LNDGS WHEN HE REPORTEDLY EXPERIENCED A SHIFT IN WIND CONDITIONS. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RWY. HE SAID THAT THE WINGS SUDDENLY LOST LIFT RESULTING IN A HIGH DESCENT RATE. THE PIC REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FLT CONTROL OR ENGINE DIFFICULTIES.
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: 970 hours in all; 624 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 737 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K91 Horton KS at 8:30 pm
- Destination: K91
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,215 ft by 260 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.