Augusta Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Augusta, Kansas 67010
Sunday, May 24, 1998 3:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he became disoriented in the fog. The airplane contacted powelines southwest of the departure end of the airport. The powerlines were slightly below the airstrip field elevation. The airplane then traveled approximately 3/4 of a mile prior to impacting the terrain. It then continued to travel approximately 900 feet prior to contacting trees, coming to rest, and being destroyed by fire. The pilot received a weather briefing just prior to the takeoff. He was not issued, nor did he request current local conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the current local weather conditions and his failure to maintain a climb after takeoff. Factors related to the accident were the fog, the powerlines, and spatial disorientation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 315
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City AUGUSTA
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 67010
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AUGUSTA MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3AU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 220
Airport Elevation 1328
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 254 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID 3KM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1420
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 669
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 603
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5247J
NTSB Number CHI98LA173
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310R
Aircraft Series Identifier 310R
Aircraft Serial Number 310R0812
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 4650
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT H. SOUDERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9207 KILLARNEY
Aircraft Owner City WICHITA
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67206
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3AU
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 313
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IND
Destination City INDIANAPOLIS
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --