Piper PA-32-301 accident near Kearney, Nebraska, November 18, 1983
On November 18, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8169C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kearney, Nebraska (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were 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
- November 18, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kearney, Nebraska · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 PA-32-201 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8169C · no longer on the register · serial 8006016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PLT HELD THE NOSEWHEEL OFF WHILE SLOWING DOWN, AND USED RIGHT RUDDER TO COMPENSATE FOR A REPORTED X-WIND CONDITION. AS SOON AS THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. IT WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, THE NOSEWHEEL HIT A RWY LIGHT & THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT ALSO REPORTED A TAILWINDCONDITION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,210 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 2,210 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540K1GS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STL St. Louis MO at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 7,092 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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 N8169C 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.