Cessna 175A accident near Norfolk, Nebraska, June 1, 1998
On June 1, 1998 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N6847E, was destroyed in an accident near Norfolk, Nebraska (Stefan Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudged wind conditions and his not obtaining/maintaining compensation for wind conditions. A factor was a sudden wind shift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1998 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Nebraska · Stefan Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N6847E · no longer on the register · serial 56347
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the terrain. The pilot said that he believes that the airplane encountered a wind shift. The airplane departed on runway 31. The reported winds six minutes prior to the accident were 270 degrees at 23 knots with gusts to 27 knots.
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: 4,500 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OFK at 10:00 pm
- Destination: SPF Spearfish SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,160 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 23 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from OFK
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.