Piper PA-22-150 accident near Ashby, Nebraska, May 11, 1986
On May 11, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7255D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashby, Nebraska. It was a personal 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
- May 11, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ashby, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7255D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE AND A PASSENGER WERE SIGHTSEEING WHEN HE INCREASED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH, APPLIED CARB HEAT AND REDUCED POWER FOR A GLIDE ACROSS A VALLEY. WHEN HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO LEVEL OFF THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN HILLY TERRAIN, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER. AN INSPECTION DID NOT INDICATE ANY REASON FOR THE ENG FAILURE. A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART INDICATES THAT CARB ICE WAS NOT PROBABLE.
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: 478 hours in all; 478 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 478 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1986; 2,741 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AIA Alliance NE at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 215° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
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.