Cessna 182 accident near Weeping Water, Nebraska, August 22, 2009
On August 22, 2009 at about 6:03 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N1921X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Weeping Water, Nebraska (Browns Airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots' improper execution of soft/short field take-off procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2009 · about 6:03 pm local time
- Place
- Weeping Water, Nebraska · Browns Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 H · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N1921X · no longer on the register · serial 18256021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a soft, dry, 2,200-foot turf airfield using soft/short field procedures. After becoming airborne, the airplane settled back onto the runway, became airborne, and settled onto the runway a second time. At this time the right main wheel separated and the landing gear strut dug into the terrain spinning the airplane around and bringing it to an abrupt stop. The airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies. Information contained in the NTSB Form 6120.1, as completed by the accident pilot, indicated that the airplane was five pounds under maximum gross weight at 2945 pounds.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,133 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 5,733 as pilot in command; 747 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 31, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lincoln Sport Parachute Club Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: NE69 Weeping Water NE at 6:03 pm
- Destination: NE69 Weeping Water NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 160°F (71°C), dew point 131°F (55°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:10 pm from KPMV, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.