Piper PA-36-375 accident near Avoca, Nebraska, July 16, 2024
On July 16, 2024 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1982 Piper PA-36-375, registered N2386X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Avoca, Nebraska. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the loose left magneto which resulted in erratic engine timing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2024 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Avoca, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-375, built 1982 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N2386X · no longer on the register · serial 36-8202018
- 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 pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, the engine lost power and the airplane began to descend. He added full power and pushed the propeller control full forward, but did not feel the engine respond and the airplane continued to descend. After he dumped the hopper tank, he still was not able to stop the airplane’s descent, and the airplane touched down in the field and continued through a cattle fence, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. There was a crack observed between the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 cylinders that was most likely the result of impact damage. Examination of the magnetos revealed that, while still attached to the engine, the left magneto could be rotated at its flange. Both magnetos were removed and spun by hand and both magnetos produced spark at their terminal leads. The right magneto made a “clunking” sound when rotated and rattled when shaken. Further examination revealed that the right magneto coil wedges were loose in the housing. The coil wedges appeared to have been initially wedged in place, but only exhibited minimal marring, and may not have been secured sufficiently. That the left magneto was found loose and could be rotated at its flange, it’s likely it was out of time. Although the right magneto coil wedges were loose in the housing, it is more likely the left magneto firing at the wrong time would have had the most significant impact on the engine only being able to produce partial power.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,577 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 1,912 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,252.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2024; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-D1C (piston); 5,286 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Elmwood NE at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KPMV, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPMV 161935Z AUTO 03006KT 10SM BKN110 25/16 A2997 RMK AO2 T02490163
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA269.