Piper PA-18 accident near North Loup, Nebraska, July 27, 1985
On July 27, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N9973Q, was destroyed in an accident near North Loup, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 27, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- North Loup, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N9973Q · no longer on the register · serial 54-2630
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE IT EVENTUALLY CRASHED. A WITNESS APRX 1/2 MI FROM THE CRASH SITE NOTICED THE PLANE FLYING LOW OVER A CORN FIELD AS THOUGH THE STUDENT PLT WAS PRACTICING AG-ACFT TYPE SWATH RUNS. (THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR SUCH OPERATIONS). AT THE END OF EACH SWATH RUN, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO PULL UP SHARPLY. AFTER THE LAST PULL-UP, IT ROTATED 180 DEG AT THE TOP OF THE MANEUVER, THEN DESCENDED & IMPACTED THE GROUND WHERE IT BURNED & WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FLT CONTROL CONNECTIONS WERE INTACT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-200-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 10K Scotia NE at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from ODX, 8 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.