Cessna 172 accident near Curtis, Nebraska, June 8, 1985
On June 8, 1985 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2267E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Curtis, Nebraska (Curtis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 8, 1985 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Curtis, Nebraska · Curtis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2267E · no longer on the register · serial 172-71213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE MISREAD THE WINDSOCK AND MADE A DOWNWIND LANDING RESULTED. THE ACFT OVERRAN THE END OF THE GRASS RWY AND NOSED OVER WHEN THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED A PLOWED FLD. THE ARPT OPERATOR REPORTED THE WINDS WERE FROM 180 DEGS AT 18 KTS WHEN THE LANDING TOOK PLACE.
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
- Flight time: 296 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 269 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NE23 Utica NE at 7:25 pm
- Destination: 47V Curtis NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,200 ft by 290 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from LBF, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.