Piper PA-25 accident near Decatur, Nebraska, August 2, 1994
On August 2, 1994 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N6440Z, was destroyed in an accident near Decatur, Nebraska (Simpson Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1994 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Nebraska · Simpson Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N6440Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-599
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH AND CLIMBED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE SURROUNDING CORNFIELD. THE WITNESS SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN AND DROPPED INTO THE FIELD. A POSTACCIDENT FIRE ENSUED. THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER OF THE SINGLE-SEAT AIRCRAFT WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE PILOT'S MOTHER WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT; SHE RECEIVED 2ND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED A RESCUE. A HORIZONTAL IMPRESSION OF THE SPINNER AND PROPELLER WAS LOCATED IN THE SOIL ABOUT 2 FEET IN FRONT OF THE NOSE. THE METAL, FIXED-PITCH PROPELLER WAS SLIGHTLY BENT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF TORSIONAL BENDING AND NO CHORDWISE SCRATCHES. DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. DURING A TOXICOLOGY TEST OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD, A LOW LEVEL (0.002 UG/ML) OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA) WAS DETECTED. TESTS OF HIS URINE DETECTED 0.033 UG/ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID, 0.109 UG/ML OF METHAMPHETAMINE, AND 0.207 UG/ML OF AMPHETAMINE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 496 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1993; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.