Piper PA-28-180 accident near North Platte, Nebraska, April 8, 1999
On April 8, 1999 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N32194, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Platte, Nebraska (North Platte Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty, high, wind conditions, and the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1999 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- North Platte, Nebraska · North Platte Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N32194 · registry record · serial 28-7505036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a written statement, the pilot stated, 'the final approach was as expected, however at the moment of flare, a strong gust of wind from 320 degrees moved us 80 feet off the runway.' The pilot reported no preexisting anomalies with the airplane, and none were found during a postaccident examination. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 340 degrees at 29 knots, gusting to 39 knots, with a peak wind of 320 degrees at 47 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: 168 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SHR Sheridan WY at 6:30 pm
- Destination: LBF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,436 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 29 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from LBF
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.
Other NTSB records under N32194 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.