Beech A36 accident near North Platte, Nebraska, October 25, 1984
On October 25, 1984, a Beech A36, registered N1890L, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Platte, Nebraska (Lee Bird Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- October 25, 1984
- Place
- North Platte, Nebraska · Lee Bird Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N1890L · registry record · serial E860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN USING FUEL FROM THE RT WING FUEL TANK TO COMPENSATE FOR A LATERAL IMBALANCE DURING THE FLT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RT TANK WHEN THE ENG FAILED. THE PLT SAID HE SWITCHED TANKS AFTER THE ENG FAILED BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG BEFORE IMPACTING THE GND. EXAM OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK, THE RT TANK WAS EMPTY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,460 hours in all; 2,380 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 77 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,874 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1984; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FWA Ft. Wayne IN at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30R, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.