Piper PA-28-236 accident near Oconto, Nebraska, March 3, 1984
On March 3, 1984 at about 8:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N8054E, was destroyed in an accident near Oconto, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 3, 1984 · about 8:45 am local time
- Place
- Oconto, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N8054E · no longer on the register · serial 288211024
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ATTENDING A BUSINESS CONFERENCE AT MUNCIE, IN, THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & TOOK OFF AT 2026 CST ON A FLT TO DES MOINES, IA, WHERE HE REFUELED. IN A PHONE CALL TO HIS WIFE AT THEIR HOME IN NORTH PLATTE, NE, HE INDICATED THE WX WAS SUCH THAT HE WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT AT DES MOINES. HOWEVER, AFTER CALLS TO THE FSS, HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO LINCOLN, NE. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT REQUESTED THE GRAND ISLAND & NORTH PLATTE WX & WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE 25000 FT THIN BROKEN WITH UNRESTRICTED VISIBILITY.AT 0121 CST, HE EXTENDED HIS FLT PLAN TO PROCEED TO NORTH PLATTE. HE CONTINUED CHECKING ON THE CURRENT NORTH PLATTE WX. AT APRX 0218 CST, HE WAS ADVISED IT HAD DETERIORATED(CEILING 700 FT). A SHORT TIME LATER, THE CEILING DROPPED TO 600 FT OVERCAST. THE PLT DIVERTED TOWARD KEARNEY, NE, BUT THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT IT HAD CRASHED IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD NOT OBTAINED AN IN-DEPTH WX BRIEFING.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DSM Des Moines IA at 6:24 am
- Destination: EAR Kearney NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 am from LBF, 32 miles away
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.
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.