Champion 7KCAB accident near Humphrey, Nebraska, August 13, 1994
On August 13, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Champion 7KCAB, registered N7565F, was destroyed in an accident near Humphrey, Nebraska. 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
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's buzzing of the passenger's brother-in-law's house.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Humphrey, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N7565F · no longer on the register · serial 229-70
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS HEARD FLYING LOW OVER THE PASSENGER'S BROTHER- IN-LAW'S HOUSE AND FARM. THE BROTHER-IN-LAW STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE NOISE VERY CLEARLY WHILE HE WAS WALKING THROUGH HIS HOUSE. HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS LOUD AND THE AIRPLANE MUST HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. HE HEARD THE ENGINE MAKING A DIFFERENT SOUND, AND THEN LOOKED OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW AND SAW THE AIRPLANE DESCEND NOSE FIRST INTO THE SOYBEAN FIELD BEHIND HIS HOG YARD. THE AIRPLANE CAUGHT FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT. THE BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE PASSENGER IN THE AIRPLANE WAS HIS RELATIVE. POSTCRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DISCOVERED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. AN AUTOPSY AND TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF TOXICOLOGICAL OR PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT.
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: 223 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,260 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1994; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Mid-Plains Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OFK Norfolk NE at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from OFK, 23 miles away
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.