Amateur-built VOLKSPLANE VP-1 accident near Papillion, Nebraska, April 2, 1989
On April 2, 1989 at about 10:11 pm local time, a amateur-built VOLKSPLANE VP-1, registered N81VP, was destroyed in an accident near Papillion, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER CLIMB RATE AND INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO AN OPEN FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1989 · about 10:11 pm local time
- Place
- Papillion, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VOLKSPLANE VP-1 VOLKSPLANE
- Registration
- N81VP · registry record · serial V-2499
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THEN WENT INTO A STEEP CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE DIPPED BEFORE SPIRALING INTO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION FAILED TO FIND ANY FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1500 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Papillion NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.