Cessna 180 accident near Wausa, Nebraska, June 13, 1991
On June 13, 1991 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N1721C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wausa, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAYED DECISION TO TURN AROUND AFTER ENCOUNTERING IFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE RESTRICTED FORWARD VISIBILITY AND POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1991 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wausa, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N1721C · registry record · serial 30421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED IFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS WHILE ON A PERSONAL VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON WHAT HE BELIEVED TO BE AN AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES, THEN THE TERRAIN. THIS RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL AIRFRAME DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER. WHAT THE PILOT BELIEVED TO BE AN AIRSTRIP WAS A BYPASS BETWEEN TWO RURAL ROADS.
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: 2,898 hours in all; 2,300 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
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K61 Beloit KS at 3:00 pm
- Destination: YKN Yankton SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:31 pm from OFK, 30 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.