S C Aerostar S A YAK-52 accident near Columbus, Nebraska, June 21, 2005
On June 21, 2005 at about 7:50 pm local time, a S C Aerostar S A YAK-52, registered N962KY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's inadequate installation of fuel lines, the obstruction of fuel lines, and the fuel starvation leading to the non-mechanical loss of engine power during approach and the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2005 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- S C Aerostar S A YAK-52 · all YAK-52s on the register
- Registration
- N962KY · no longer on the register · serial 889204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental exhibition airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a ditch during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on approach. An on-scene examination of fuel lines revealed that they were obstructed. The interior of the effected hoses were 90% plugged with interior rubber from the hose. The logbook showed they were replaced during the last annual condition inspection.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 26 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2004; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vendeneyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLU Columbus NE at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from OLU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.