None Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arnold, Nebraska 69120
Sunday, May 10, 1992 12:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS BOARDED A TWO-SEAT AIRPLANE. ONE PASSENGER KNELT BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, PLACING THE AIRPLANE AT ITS REAR CG LIMIT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED A MILE FROM ITS FARM STRIP, IN A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT CUTTING OUT. NEARING 180 DEGREES OF TURN, THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. NO AIRFRAME DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND. THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING RICH DUE TO CARBURETOR FLOAT MALADJUSTMENT. AUTO GAS DRAWN FROM THE FARM'S FUEL SUPPLY WAS STALE AND CONTAINED WATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT LEVEL BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, AND THE PILOT'S DISREGARDING WEIGHT-AND-BALANCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/10/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ARNOLD
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69120
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NONE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 120
Airport Elevation 2700
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID BBW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2546
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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 --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2356
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 10 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47068
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7282K
NTSB Number CHI92FA145
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-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-189
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 14 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 1470
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BESHALER, CHARLES F.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1
Aircraft Owner City ARNOLD
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69120
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BESHALER, CHARLES F.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RR 1
Operator City ARNOLD
Operator State NE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 69120
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 1200
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 Maneuvering
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 31
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --