Amateur-built EAA Biplane B1 accident near Schuyler, Nebraska, July 3, 2008
On July 3, 2008 at about 11:55 pm local time, a amateur-built EAA Biplane B1, registered N6WC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Schuyler, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wire due to his diverted attention resulting in in-flight collision with the wire. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to locate an emergency landing site.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2008 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Schuyler, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAA Biplane B1
- Registration
- N6WC · registry record · serial BC1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while trouble shooting a rough running engine the aircraft descended to an altitude 20 to 25 feet above the ground. The pilot maintained this altitude while gaining airspeed and struck an overhead cable resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot did not report changing course or seeking an adequate emergency landing site. An examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies. Witnesses reported seeing the accident airplane buzzing boaters and flying at a low altitude prior to impacting the wire.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,230 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLU Columbus NE at 11:17 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from LNK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.