# NTSB CHI03FA003: Piper PA-18A, N3279Z, Garden City, KS, October 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2002, 06:58 local (11:58 UTC) - Place: Garden City, KS - Coordinates: 37.900833, -100.76667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9008&lon=-100.7667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Textron Lycoming, Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03FA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55845/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA003 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane, piloted by a non-instrument rated private pilot, was found destroyed about 2.5 nautical miles southwest of the departure airport. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Flight control continuity was confirmed and torsional signatures on the propeller blades were noted. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 2, 2002, approximately 0658 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18A, N3279Z, owned and piloted by a noninstrument rated private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain approximately 2.5 nautical miles southwest of Garden City Regional Airport (GCK), Garden City, Kansas. The airplane was reported missing on the same day and was found on the following day. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from GCK approximately 0641 en route to a private airstrip near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 57, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. The last entry in the pilot's logbook was dated July 13, 2002 in the accident airplane from "Gains" to "MCG, AL Al/OVEL" for a total duration 57.00 hours at a total time 2,998 hours. His last biennial flight review was dated April 22, 2002. He was issued a third class medical certificate on March 28, 2001, with the following limitation: "must have available glasses for near vision." AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The 1959 Piper PA-18A, serial number 18-7199, was registered to the pilot's corporation. The airplane was last inspected during an annual inspection dated March 19, 2002, at an aircraft total time and tachometer time of 4,639.05 hours. A 100-hour inspection was also performed on the same date with a time since overhaul of 694.87 hours. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane was resting upright on a northerly heading with its nose embedded in the side of a dry river bed. The propeller was separated from the engine and buried in the ground beneath the wreckage. The propeller exhibited S-shaped twisting and bending. Examination of the flight control system confirmed flight control continuity. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The GCK automated surface observing system recorded, at 0654: wind from 020 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 23 knots; 1 statue mile visibility mist; overcast ceiling 200 feet above ground level; temperature 11 degrees Celsius (C) and dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter setting 29.97 inches of mercury. According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, civil twilight began at 0714 on the day of the accident. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Federal Aviation Administration, The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., and Textron Lycoming were parties to the investigation. The wreckage was released to the registered owner's insurance representative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3279Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3279Z), registered now, S/N 18-7199 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7199 - Airframe hours: 4864.63 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Daniel A. Wiltz - Registered owner: Wiltz Brothers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2003, 225.58 hours before - Departed: GCK, GARDEN CITY, KS - Destination: PVT, Baton Rouge, LA - Airport: GCK, Garden City Regional, runway 35, 7,300 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 22, 2002; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 18 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: GCK, 2 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20021002031129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021002031129A), Oct 2, 2002: Piper PA18A, Garden City, KS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-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,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.