Rockwell 690-A and Piper PA-28R-200 mid-air collision near Norfolk, Nebraska, July 30, 1993
On July 30, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Rockwell 690-A (N707BP) and Piper PA-28R-200 (N33056), were involved in a mid-air collision near Norfolk, Nebraska (Karl Stefan Memorial airport). 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF THE ROCKWELL 690-A, N707BP, AND THE PIPER PA-28R, N33056, TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOT'S TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDED COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL FOR OPERATING AT AN AIRPORT WITHOUT AN OPERATING CONTROL TOWER.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF THE ROCKWELL 690-A, N707BP, AND THE PIPER PA-28R, N33056, TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOT'S TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDED COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL FOR OPERATING AT AN AIRPORT WITHOUT AN OPERATING CONTROL TOWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Nebraska · Karl Stefan Memorial
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Rockwell 690-A
- Registration
- N707BP · no longer on the register · serial 11326
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N33056 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7535114
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Rockwell 690-A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ROCKWELL 690-A, N707BP, WAS FLYING A STRAIGHT-IN ENTRY TO A DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 19 AT THE NON-CONTROLLED ARPT. THE ONLY RADIO CALL HEARD FROM THE ROCKWELL WAS A REQUEST FOR AN AIRPORT ADVISORY WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 20 MI SE. THE PIPER PA-28R, N33056, HAD DEPARTED FROM RWY 19. NO RADIO CALLS WERE HEARD FROM THE PIPER. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ROCKWELL HEADING NORTH AND THE PIPER HEADING EAST MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE WITNESSES STATED THE PIPER PITCHED UP AND BANKED STEEPLY MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED APROX 2 MI ESE OF THE ARPT. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE PIPER'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE HAD MADE AN IMPRINT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ROCKWELL'S OUTBOARD LEFT WING. PAINT COLOR FROM THE ROCKWELL HAD TRANSFERRED TO THE PIPER'S LEFT WING SKIN.
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 Piper PA-28R-200 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ROCKWELL 690-A, N707BP, WAS FLYING A STRAIGHT-IN ENTRY TO A DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 19 AT THE NON-CONTROLLED ARPT. THE ONLY RADIO CALL HEARD FROM THE ROCKWELL WAS A REQUEST FOR AN AIRPORT ADVISORY WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 20 MI SE. THE PIPER PA-28R, N33056, HAD DEPARTED FROM RWY 19. NO RADIO CALLS WERE HEARD FROM THE PIPER. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ROCKWELL HEADING NORTH AND THE PIPER HEADING EAST MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE WITNESSES STATED THE PIPER PITCHED UP AND BANKED STEEPLY MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED APROX 2 MI ESE OF THE ARPT. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE PIPER'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE HAD MADE AN IMPRINT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ROCKWELL'S OUTBOARD LEFT WING. PAINT COLOR FROM THE ROCKWELL HAD TRANSFERRED TO THE PIPER'S LEFT WING SKIN.
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 Rockwell 690-A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,770 hours in all; 414 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 17,630 as pilot in command; 6,777 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Motel Developers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BPK Mountain Home AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from OFK, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28R-200 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 451 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,530 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 1993; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Storm Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Destination: FOD Ft. Dodge IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.