Lawrence Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Thursday, December 22, 1988 8:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND LOSE POWER. HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE RUNWAY. HE RAN OFF THE END, INTO A FARM FIELD, WHERE THE ACFT NOSED DOWN AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID HE MADE AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF WHICH GAVE HIM ABOUT 3000 FEET USEABLE RUNWAY INSTEAD OF THE FULL LENGTH OF 5000 FEET. INVESTIGATION REVEALED BOTH SPARK PLUGS ON NO. 3 CYLINDER TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. ONE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND THE OTHER FIRED INTERMITTENTLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/22/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LAWRENCE
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66044
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAWRENCE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LWC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 834
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 750 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 285
Weather Observation Facility ID TOP
Elevation of weather observation facility 880
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1472
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 22 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37597
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7159M
NTSB Number MKC89LA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 175
Aircraft Series Identifier 175
Aircraft Serial Number 55459
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 3075
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FITCH, HENRY G
Aircraft Owner Street Address 721 INDIANA ST.
Aircraft Owner City LAWRENCE
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66044
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FITCH, HENRY G.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 721 INDIANA
Operator City LAWRENCE
Operator State KS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 66044
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 825
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HNB
Destination City HUNTINGBURG
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --