Cessna 120 accident near Crawford, Nebraska, May 21, 1993
On May 21, 1993 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N2976N, was destroyed in an accident near Crawford, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1993 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Crawford, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N2976N · no longer on the register · serial 13234
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A ROUND-ROBIN OUT OF RAPID CITY, SD. DURING A REFUELING STOP AT CHADRON, NE, HE INQUIRED ABOUT SCENIC SPOTS IN THE AREA. AFTER HEARING ABOUT A RIDGE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A VERTICAL DESCENT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,035 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,936 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDR Chadron NE at 6:20 pm
- Destination: RAP Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from CDR, 18 miles away
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.