Beech C23 accident near Neligh, Nebraska, July 23, 1989
On July 23, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N66295, was destroyed in an accident near Neligh, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AFTER INTIATING A STEEP CLIMBING MANEUVER FROM LOW ALTITUDE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE AND LACK OF SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Neligh, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N66295 · no longer on the register · serial M-2187
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED NEAR NELIGH, NE, AS IT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM SPENCER, IA, TO KEARNEY, NE. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE ACFT, SAID IT WAS PROCEEDING ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AT LOW ALTITUDE BEFORE IT CRASHED. AN EYE WITNESS RPRTD THAT JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB (TO AN ESTIMATED 500 TO 600 FT), THEN IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED IT HAD IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PLT CERTIFICATE ABOUT 2 WKS BEFORE THE ACDNT.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1989; 475 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPW Spencer IA
- Destination: EAR Kearney NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:50 pm from OFK, 32 miles away
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.