Piper PA-24-250 accident near Medicine Lodge, Kansas, July 9, 1989
On July 9, 1989 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5379P, was destroyed in an accident near Medicine Lodge, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE ABOVE A HOUSE (RESIDENCE) THAT HE WAS BUZZING AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO COLLIDE WITH THE ATTACHED ANTENNA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1989 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Medicine Lodge, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5379P · no longer on the register · serial 24-429
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS RPRTD THAT HE HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER HIS HOUSE FROM WEST TO EAST, SO HE & HIS FAMILY WENT OUT ONTO THE DECK ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THE ACFT THEN APCHD THE HOUSE FROM THE EAST AT LOW ALTITUDE. AS THE ACFT WENT OVER THE HOUSE AGAIN, ITS RIGHT WING HIT THE TOP OF AN ATTACHED TV ANTENNA, APRX 48 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED ABOUT 1650 FT FROM THE HOUSE.
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: 359 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K51 Medicine Lodge KS at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from DDC, 76 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.