Farington Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Auburn, Nebraska 68305
Sunday, October 5, 1997 12:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an approach to runway 20, the airplane collided with a semi-tractor trailer that was traveling west on highway 136 near the overrun at the approach end of the runway. During impact, the airplane struck the truck's sleeper compartment and a backhoe on the truck's trailer. An eyewitness said that the airplane made its approach too low to the highway. The runway overrun area was approximately 60 feet from the highway. Flight control continuity was confirmed. A check of the engine, engine controls, and all other airplane systems revealed no anomaly.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot misjudged distance/altitude to the runway, while on final approach to land, allowing the airplane to get too low and collide with a truck. A related factor was: the proximity of the truck (and highway) to the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City AUBURN
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68305
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FARINGTON FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID K01
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 932
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1252 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID FNB
Elevation of weather observation facility 984
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2906
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1448
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 5 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1459
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4028X
NTSB Number CHI98FA010
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 Aero Commander
Aircraft Model 100-180
Aircraft Series Identifier 100-180
Aircraft Serial Number 5128
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Jun 19 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 3912
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AUBURN FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1022 17TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City AUBURN
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68305
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 K01
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 20
Runway Length 1600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --