Piper PA-28-140 accident near Hallam, Nebraska, January 14, 1996
On January 14, 1996 at about 1:47 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N98254, was destroyed in an accident near Hallam, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Darkness was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1996 · about 1:47 am local time
- Place
- Hallam, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N98254 · no longer on the register · serial 28-25966
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed Dallas, Texas at 1544 cst with a gross weight of 2,382.3 pounds. The maximum certified gross weight was 2,081 pounds. About 4 hours and 15 minutes after takeoff, the pilot transmitted on a UNICOM frequency that the airplane was low on fuel. A short time later, he reported that the airplane was out of fuel and he intended to perform an off-airport landing. During a night forced landing, the airplane contacted powerlines, then impacted the terrain. A total of 30 ounces of fuel was drained from the airplane fuel system after the accident.
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: 139 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1995; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,081 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAL Dallas TX at 9:30 pm
- Destination: AHQ Wahoo NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 am from BIE, 14 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.