# NTSB MKC84FA115: Piper PA-28R-200, N40846, Garden City, KS, March 31, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1984, 00:00 local (06:00 UTC)
- Place: Garden City, KS
- Coordinates: 37.969772, -100.860824 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9698&lon=-100.8608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84FA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33523/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84FA115

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPARTED KENDALLVILLE, IN, AT ABOUT 1800 EST & MADE A REFUELING STOP AT TOPEKA, KS. AT TOPEKA, HE OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FOR A FLT TO PUEBLO, CO, HIS INTENDED DESTINATION, & WAS ADVISED OF MARGINAL VFR TO IFR CONDITIONS ON HIS PROPOSED ROUTE. HE THEN ASKED ABOUT THE WX ON THE FOLLOWING DAY & WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE MARGINAL VFR TO VFR AFTER 1500 HRS ON 3/31/84. AT THAT TIME, HE TOLD THE BRIEFER THAT HE WOULD 'JUST SIT ON IT.' HOWEVER, THE PLT TOOK OFF. LATER, HE CALLED SALINA RADIO & OBTAINED THE SALINA & PUEBLO CURRENT & FORCAST WX, WHICH WAS MARGINAL VFR TO IFR. AFTER THAT, THERE WAS NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACT WITH ATC. ON 4/2/84, THE ACFT WAS FOUND APRX 1-1/2 MI SOUTHEAST OF THE GARDEN CITY MUNI ARPT. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT IT HAD CRASHED ON A HEADING OF APRX 120 DEG WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. IMPACT OCCURRED ON LEVEL TERRAIN WHILE THE ACFT WAS IN A RIGHT BANK. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THE 0030 CST WX AT GARDEN CITY WAS: 200 FT OBSCURED, 1 MI VIS WITH LGT SNW, TEMP/DEW POINT 33/31, WIND 110 DEG AT 8 KTS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40846](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40846-2012-11-07), registration cancelled 2012-11-07, S/N 28R-7435132, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R07434132
- Airframe hours: 2990
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dr William A. Thompson
- Registered owner: William K. Kost
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 19, 1983, 46 hours before
- Departed: TOP, TOPEKA, KS
- Destination: PUB, PUEBLO, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 238 total, 5 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCK, 1 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 19840331012499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840331012499A), Mar 31, 1984: Piper PA28R200, Garden City, KS, Destroyed. Flew into flat level ground at night in near zero flight conditions. Briefing advised adverse weather and icing.

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.

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