Piper PA-31 accident near Norfolk, Nebraska, April 14, 1986
On April 14, 1986 at about 4:13 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered N6700L, was destroyed in an accident near Norfolk, Nebraska (Karl Stefan Memorial airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 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
- April 14, 1986 · about 4:13 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Nebraska · Karl Stefan Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N6700L · no longer on the register · serial 105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 31 WITH A LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY VARIABLE FROM 1/4 MILE TO 1/16 MILE AND WINDS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 38 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 47 KNOTS. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AIRBORNE NO MORE THAN TWO MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINES WERE STARTED. THE AIRPLANE WAS HEARD AND OBSERVED 1/4 OF A MILE NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT AT LOW ALTITUDE. IT CLIMBED INTO THE CLOUDS AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN AN ALMOST FLAT ATTITUDE, 1/8 OF A MILE BEYOND AND WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT AND POST-IMPACT FIRE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,980 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-54O J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Hy Plains Dressed Beef INC.
The flight
- Destination: MLE Omaha NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 5,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 38 knots, gusting 47
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from OFK
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.
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.