Piper PA-28-180 accident near Moberly, Missouri, May 11, 1989
On May 11, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7741W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moberly, Missouri (Omar Bradley airport). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ON TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS LACK OF CONTROL WERE WIND GUSTS FROM DUST DEVILS IN THE AREA, THERMAL ACTIVITY, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Moberly, Missouri · Omar Bradley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7741W · no longer on the register · serial 1801750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE CONTINUATION OF A STUDENT SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLT, WHILE ON A TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, THE ACFT VEERED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT AND A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL RESULTED. THE ACFT TRAVELED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE PLT AND WITNESSES STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS DUST DEVILS IN THE AREA ALONG WITH THERMAL ACTIVITY. THE PLT FELT THAT THE WEATHER CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1988; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MBY Moberly MO at 6:10 pm
- Destination: H23 Blue Mound IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,720 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from COU, 30 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.