Amateur-built LONGEZE accident near Yutan, Nebraska, July 30, 1990
On July 30, 1990 at about 2:30 am local time, a amateur-built LONGEZE, registered N252BJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yutan, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS HOME-BUILT AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND OBSTRUCTIONS (VEHICLE & ROAD SIGN) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1990 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Yutan, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONGEZE
- Registration
- N252BJ · no longer on the register · serial 222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A NIGHT, CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN A BORROWED, HOMEBUILT LONGEZE. ABOUT 20 MI FROM HIS DESTINATION, THE ENG LOST POWER. AN EMERGENCY LNDG WAS MADE ON A HIGHWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE & A ROAD SIGN BEFORE COMING TO REST IN A DITCH. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL. AN ENG RUN-UP REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION. THE PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE THE ENG LOST POWER, HE HAD MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RGT TANK, WHICH (HE THOUGHT) HAD ABOUT 7 GAL REMAINING. HE ESTIMATED THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ONLY ABOUT 20 MI FURTHER, WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. THIS LONGEZE WAS EQUIPPED WITH RETRACTABLE TRICYLE GEAR. THE MAIN GEAR RETRACTED INTO THE REAR AREA OF THE FUEL TANKS. THIS FEATURE REDUCED THE TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY OF THE ACFT.
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: 7,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 396 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1990; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KS01 Hoxie KS at 1:00 am
- Destination: OMA Omaha NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from OMA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.