Piper PA-12 accident near Bertrand, Nebraska, September 26, 1988
On September 26, 1988 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3390M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bertrand, Nebraska (Bertrand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 26, 1988 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bertrand, Nebraska · Bertrand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3390M · no longer on the register · serial 12 2055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHILE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS & LDGS, HE BELIEVED HE HAD EXCESSIVE GROUND SPEED & ELECTED TO GO AROUND. HE SAID HE WAITED TO LONG TO GO AROUND, SO HE DECIDED TO FLY UNDER POWER LINES, LOCATED AT THE DEP END OF THE STRIP. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT STALLED, DRIFTED TO THE LEFT & HIT THE EDGE OF A ROADWAY WHICH WAS ALSO AT THE END OF THE STRIP. THE ROADWAY WAS ABOUT 4 FEET HIGHER THAN THE RWY SURFACE. THE PLT SAID THE AIRSTRIP WAS SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL TO THE NORTH & THE WIND WAS CALM.
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: 161 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,107 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ray'S Aircraft Repair INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 63NE at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from EAR, 40 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.