Piper PA-28-181 accident near Chapman, Nebraska, May 6, 1994
On May 6, 1994 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2938Q, was destroyed in an accident near Chapman, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1994 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chapman, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2938Q · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790424
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT PILOT HAD OBTAINED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT HE WAS ADVISED BY THE FAA'S FSS SPECIALIST THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO IMC WEATHER ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT CALLED HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND WAS TOLD TO FLY HOME ON AN AIRLINE. THE PILOT OBTAINED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING GROUND WITNESSES DESCRIBED AN AIRPLANE IN A POWER DIVE WHEN IT HIT THE GROUND, AND AN AIRPLANE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A CROP DUSTER. THE WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS BEING CLOUDS AND FOG.
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: 73 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,044 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 24, 1994; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRI Grand Island NE at 7:00 pm
- Destination: LRJ Le Mars IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from GRI, 5 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.