Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chapman, Nebraska 68827
Friday, May 6, 1994 14:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT PILOT HAD OBTAINED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT HE WAS ADVISED BY THE FAA'S FSS SPECIALIST THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO IMC WEATHER ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT CALLED HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND WAS TOLD TO FLY HOME ON AN AIRLINE. THE PILOT OBTAINED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING GROUND WITNESSES DESCRIBED AN AIRPLANE IN A POWER DIVE WHEN IT HIT THE GROUND, AND AN AIRPLANE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A CROP DUSTER. THE WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS BEING CLOUDS AND FOG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CHAPMAN
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68827
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID GRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1846
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 905
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2938Q
NTSB Number CHI94LA149
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7790424
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 24 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 4044
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PLYMOUTH COUNTY AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 822 4TH AVENUE, SE
Aircraft Owner City LAMARS
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51031
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 No
Departure Airport Code GRI
Departure City GRAND ISLAND
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LRJ
Destination City LE MARS
Destination State IA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --