Cessna 150 accident near Potter, Nebraska, April 24, 1982
On April 24, 1982 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1556Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Potter, Nebraska. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1982 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Potter, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1556Q · no longer on the register · serial 150-72856
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST FLIGHT TO THE "BAR J LAZY V" RANCH. HE SAW A GROUP OF BUILDINGS WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE ON THE RANCH. NEARBY WAS A FIELD THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BLADED TO REMOVE GRASS CLUMPS. HE PROCEEDED TO MAKE A FULL FLAP LANDING ON THE STRIP. AS HE WAS FLARING TO LAND, HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS OVER A STRIP OF PLOWED GROUND. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN GEAR AND ROLLED UNTIL THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHED AND DUG IN. THE PLANE NOSED OVER AS IT HAD ALMOST COME TO A STOP.
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: student
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,580 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 114 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: North Platte NE at 10:15 am
- Destination: Half Way Ranch ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.