Amateur-built LONGEZE accident near Wahoo, Nebraska, April 20, 1991
On April 20, 1991 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LONGEZE, registered N459EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wahoo, Nebraska (Wahoo Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION/MAINTENANCE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S RESTRICTED VISUAL OUTLOOK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1991 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wahoo, Nebraska · Wahoo Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONGEZE
- Registration
- N459EZ · no longer on the register · serial Q
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE REACHED ABOUT 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING INITIAL CLIMB. HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING WITH THE RETRACTABLE NOSE GEAR UP AND LOCKED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE POST THAT WAS OBSCURED BY THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING FLARE. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A POSTACCIDENT RUN UP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR HEAT HOSE WAS DISCONNECTED. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
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: 118 hours in all; 72 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.