Piper PA-38 accident near North Platte, Nebraska, July 28, 1983
On July 28, 1983 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N25087, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Platte, Nebraska (Lee Bird airport). 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
- July 28, 1983 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- North Platte, Nebraska · Lee Bird · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N25087 · no longer on the register · serial 38-80A0027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN FLYING FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR IN THE LOCAL AREA AND WAS RETURNING FROM THE PRACTICE AREA AT 1100 FEET AGL. IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING HE ADVANCED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE TRIED EMERG PROCEDURES BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MOVED THE THROTTLE AND THE MIXTURE BACK AND FORTH AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE MADE A LEFT TURN AND LANDED IN A CORNFIELD. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT EXAMINED THE ENGINE BUT DID NOT FIND EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE SURFACE TEMP WAS 78F AND THE DEW POINT WAS 63F. ACCORDING TO THE CARBURATOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART, THAT COMBINATION OF TEMP/DEW POINT IS CONDUCIVE TO MODERATE CARBURETOR ICING AT CRUISE POWER AND SERIOUS ICING AT DESCENT POWER. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NOT USED CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE FLIGHT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 4,434 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from LBF, 3 miles away
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.