# Accident 20021002031129A: Piper PA18A, Garden City, KS, October 2, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2002, 06:58 local time
- Place: Garden City, KS
- Airport: Garden City Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9008° N, 100.7667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9008&lon=-100.7667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3279Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3279Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A (registry code 7101804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021002031129A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON OCTOBER 2, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 0620 TO 0630, A PIPER PA-18 OPERATED BY DANIEL ALFRED WILTZ (CERTIFICATE NO. 438660535), DEPARTED THE GARDEN CITY, KANSAS AIRPORT (GCK) ENROUTE TO OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. LOCAL RADAR TRACKED THE FLIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 0658 LOCAL, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. LATER THAT DAY, THE PLANE WAS REPORTED TO BE OVERDUE, SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS WERE INITIATED, AND THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON OCTOBER 3 AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 LOCAL. MR. WILTZ (SOLE OCCUPANT) WAS FATALLY INJURED. IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED ON THE MORNING OF THE FATAL EVENT. MR. WILTZ HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITHOUT AN INSTRUMENT RATING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI03FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA003), Oct 2, 2002: Piper PA-18A (N3279Z), Garden City, KS, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The inadequate preflight planning/preparation and visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions by the pilot. The clouds, mist, and night conditions were contributing factors.

## Other reports on N3279Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20020423007509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020423007509I), Apr 23, 2002: Piper PA18A (N3279Z), Krontzsprings, LA, Minor damage. (-23) On short final, a gust of wind pushed the right wing up causing the left wing to clip a tree.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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