Piper PA 18-150 accident near Cozad, Nebraska, May 24, 2016
On May 24, 2016 at about 3:10 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA 18-150, registered N4234Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Cozad, Nebraska (Fiese Airstrip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight loss of control for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2016 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cozad, Nebraska · Fiese Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150, built 1966 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4234Z · registry record · serial 18-8460
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting an aerial application flight about 25 ft above ground level when the airplane suddenly made an uncommanded descent and impacted a wheat field. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained damage to both wings, wing struts, fuselage, and tail surfaces. Although the pilot noted some discrepancies with the airplane after it was rebuilt, examination of the wreckage, including the horizontal jackscrew assembly, did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,397 hours in all; 100,016 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 639,710 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2016; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 1,699 hours total
- Operator: Gothenburg Flying Service, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 2NE5 Gothenburg NE at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 2NE5 Gothenburg NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KLXN, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Letter from Pilot Fiese | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | E-mail from Larry Fiese | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Horizontal Stabilizer Trim Assembly and Jackscrew | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigator's Sketch | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | E-mail from FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | FAA E-mail 2 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Portion of the Omaha Sectional Chart Depicting Gotherburg and Cozad, Nebraska | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Aerial Map of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Report Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.