Embraer EMB-110 accident near Norfolk, Nebraska, March 6, 1987
On March 6, 1987 at about 1:58 am local time, a Embraer EMB-110, registered N890AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfolk, Nebraska (Karl Stefan Mem. airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 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
- March 6, 1987 · about 1:58 am local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Nebraska · Karl Stefan Mem. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-110 · all EMB-110s on the register
- Registration
- N890AC · registry record · serial 110-156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CREW STATED THEY WERE DESCENDING FOR LANDING WHEN THEY FLEW THROUGH A FLOCK OF GEESE THAT WERE TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THEY RECEIVED THREE OR FOUR BIRD STIKES. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,753 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,007 lb
- Seats: 20
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid Continent Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: OLU Columbus NE at 1:48 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:43 am from OLU, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.