Amateur-built Q2 accident near Utica, Nebraska, June 25, 1994
On June 25, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N524WM, was destroyed in an accident near Utica, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE HIGH VEGETATION AT THE LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Utica, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N524WM · no longer on the register · serial 2758
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/AIRPLANE BUILDER STATED THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE '...WENT TO IDLE...' AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED HE SET THE AIRPLANE UP FOR ITS 'BEST GLIDE' AIRSPEED AND SELECTED A FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THE FIELDS WITHIN RANGE WERE CORN FIELDS, SO HE PICKED ONE WITH THE ROWS GOING INTO THE WIND, AND LANDED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN THE 4 FOOT HIGH CORN AND SOFT DIRT, AND FLIPPED OVER, COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 87 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hapi 82 2DEH (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JYR York NE at 5:45 pm
- Destination: LNK Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from LNK, 4 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.