Piper PA-28-151 and Cessna 150 accident near Mccook, Nebraska, April 23, 1991
On April 23, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-151 (N32478) and Cessna 150 (N3131X), were involved in the same accident near Mccook, Nebraska (Mccook airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
A POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mccook, Nebraska · Mccook · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N32478 · registry record · serial 28-7515164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3131X · registry record · serial 15064531
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-151 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD JUST TOUCHDOWN DOWN, WHEN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT LANDED ON TOP OF HIS AIRCRAFT. THE TWO AIRCRAFT LOCKED TOGETHER AND CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 600 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY ON CENTERLINE. THE UNINJURED PILOT EXITED THROUGH THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT AS HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AS HE FLARED TO LAND, HE LANDED ON TOP OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT HAD JUST TOUCHED DOWN. THE TWO AIRCRAFT, LOCKED TOGETHER, CONTINUED DOWN THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY FOR ANOTHER 600 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THE TOP AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE AND THE BOTTOM AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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 for the Piper PA-28-151 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,404 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1991; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trego Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LBF North Platte NE at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 3, 3,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MCK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1990; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,999 ft by 75 ft
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.