Cessna 140 accident near Fairbury, Nebraska, December 8, 1991
On December 8, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89997, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbury, Nebraska (Fairbury 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbury, Nebraska · Fairbury · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N89997 · no longer on the register · serial 9051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REPORTED HE APPLIED THE WHEEL BRAKES TOO HARD AND WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE NOSE FROM PITCHING DOWN. THE NOSE STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE ULTIMATELY NOSED OVER.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1991; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUK Sioux City IA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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.