Piper PA-32-260 accident near Sidney, Nebraska, April 26, 1992
On April 26, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3811W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sidney, Nebraska (Sidney airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH DURING LANDING BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sidney, Nebraska · Sidney · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3811W · registry record · serial 32-741
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ON SHORT FINAL AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE HARD LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL WING AND AIRFRAME 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3V4 Fort Morgan CO at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from SNY, 1 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.