Piper PA-28 accident near Fremont, Nebraska, August 10, 1995
On August 10, 1995 at about 10:09 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered CGQGZ, was destroyed in an accident near Fremont, Nebraska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable landing terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1995 · about 10:09 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- CGQGZ · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7703042
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE AND PERFORMED THE ENGINE RUN-UP AND CONTROL CHECKS, AND ALL ENGINE INDICATIONS LOOKED NORMAL. HE REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL THE ENGINE HAD A LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN A DITCH AND HIT A CONCRETE BRIDGE ABUTMENT/CULVERT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS 'MISSING, FALTERING, AND SPUTTERING.' INSPECTION REVEALED THAT AIRPLANE'S ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS HAD CONTINUITY OR WERE CAPABLE OF OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FUEL SAMPLE WAS CLEAR AND BRIGHT. THE ENGINE OPERATED WITHIN MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS WHEN IT WAS RUN ON A TEST STAND. THE AIRCRAFT'S WEIGHT AND BALANCE WERE WITHIN LIMITS ON TAKEOFF. THE TAKEOFF WEIGHT WAS ABOUT 2,856 POUNDS AND THE GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT WAS 2,900 POUNDS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,227 hours in all; 2,675 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 5,097 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,221 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1995; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FET at 10:10 pm
- Destination: FAR Fargo ND
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:07 pm from FET, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.