Piper PA-28-151 accident near Bertrand, Nebraska, August 24, 1986
On August 24, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N5376F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bertrand, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 24, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bertrand, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N5376F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON AN UNSUPERVISED LOCAL SOLO FLIGHT WHEN HE DECIDED TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. AS HE HAD DRIVEN HIS AUTOMOBILE ON THIS RUNWAY FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD FOUND THE LANDING SURFACE CLEAR HE ASSUMED THAT THE RUNWAY WOULD BE CLEAR ON THIS DAY, THE PILOT FURTHER STATED. AS SUCH, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO RUNWAY SURFACE HAZARDS DURING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROACH AND SUBSEQUENT LANDING, BUT CONCENTRATED INSTEAD ON POWER LINES AND OTHER RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN IRRIGATION PIPE THAT WAS PLACED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER ACROSS THE RUNWAY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS REVEAL THAT A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 83 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1986; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXN Lexington NE at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from LBF, 58 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.