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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 26, 1985 · Piper PA-24-260 · N8852P

Wakeeney, KS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 26, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Wakeeney, KS
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260
Tail Number
N8852P
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC85FA089

ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM DODGE CITY, KS, TO HILL CITY, KS, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED IFR WX CONDITIONS AROUND WAKEENEY, KS. THE IFR CONDITIONS WERE NOT FORECAST FOR HIS AREA OF FLT. A 2000 CST OBSERVATION AT HILL CITY, KS, WAS INDICATING IFR CONDITIONS EXISTING APRX 2 HRS PRIOR. HILL CITY, KS, IS 22 MI NORTH OF WAKEENEY, KS. THE PLT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WX BRIEFING FOR CURRENT WX CONDITIONS AT CITY HALL OR THE SURROUNDING AREA OF FLT. NO RECORD OF THE PLT FILING A FLT PLAN FOR THE ROUTE OF FLT WAS RECEIVED. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO IMPACT. WITNESSES HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT AND NOTED WX CONDITIONS AS VERY POOR AT THE TIME. THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN HEADING EAST, APRX 2 1/2 MI NORTH OF THE WAKEENEY ARPT. NO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION OF THE PLT WAS NOTED.

Full Narrative

ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM DODGE CITY, KS, TO HILL CITY, KS, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED IFR WX CONDITIONS AROUND WAKEENEY, KS. THE IFR CONDITIONS WERE NOT FORECAST FOR HIS AREA OF FLT. A 2000 CST OBSERVATION AT HILL CITY, KS, WAS INDICATING IFR CONDITIONS EXISTING APRX 2 HRS PRIOR. HILL CITY, KS, IS 22 MI NORTH OF WAKEENEY, KS. THE PLT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WX BRIEFING FOR CURRENT WX CONDITIONS AT CITY HALL OR THE SURROUNDING AREA OF FLT. NO RECORD OF THE PLT FILING A FLT PLAN FOR THE ROUTE OF FLT WAS RECEIVED. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO IMPACT. WITNESSES HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT AND NOTED WX CONDITIONS AS VERY POOR AT THE TIME. THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN HEADING EAST, APRX 2 1/2 MI NORTH OF THE WAKEENEY ARPT. NO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION OF THE PLT WAS NOTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:52 CST
Nearest Airport15nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-260
Tail NumberN8852P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
CeilingOvercast 100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data