Thomas Co. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Thedford, Nebraska 69166
Tuesady, April 24, 1990 18:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURED ACFT, DURING GUSTY, CROSS WIND CONDITIONS, THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND WHILE LANDING RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/24/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1820
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City THEDFORD
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69166
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THOMAS CO.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5V3
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 2820
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID MHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 3260
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1195
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 24 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2026
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42520
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N78812
NTSB Number MKC90LA096
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-11
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-11
Aircraft Serial Number 11-1585
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOST, GORDON G.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 49
Aircraft Owner City SENECA
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69161
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 06
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 AIA
Departure City ALLIANCE
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 5V3
Destination City
Destination State
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 26
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --