Piper PA-18 accident near Arnold, Nebraska, May 10, 1992
On May 10, 1992 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N7282K, was destroyed in an accident near Arnold, Nebraska (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT LEVEL BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, AND THE PILOT'S DISREGARDING WEIGHT-AND-BALANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1992 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Arnold, Nebraska · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N7282K · no longer on the register · serial 18-189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS BOARDED A TWO-SEAT AIRPLANE. ONE PASSENGER KNELT BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, PLACING THE AIRPLANE AT ITS REAR CG LIMIT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED A MILE FROM ITS FARM STRIP, IN A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT CUTTING OUT. NEARING 180 DEGREES OF TURN, THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. NO AIRFRAME DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND. THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING RICH DUE TO CARBURETOR FLOAT MALADJUSTMENT. AUTO GAS DRAWN FROM THE FARM'S FUEL SUPPLY WAS STALE AND CONTAINED WATER.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 202 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1991; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from BBW, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.