Cessna 320 accident near Nebraska City, Nebraska, October 28, 1989
On October 28, 1989 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 320, registered N5725X, was destroyed in an accident near Nebraska City, Nebraska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALITTUDE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY AND THE LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1989 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Nebraska City, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320 · all 320s on the register
- Registration
- N5725X · no longer on the register · serial 320-0025
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING DURING WHICH HE WAS INFORMED THAT IFR CONDITIONS EXISTED ALONG THE PLANNED ROUTE TO AUBURN, NB. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE FLYING LOW ALONG A HIGHWAY EAST OF THE REPORTED INTENDED DESTINATION AIRSTRIP. THEY REPORTED THE LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS AS FOGGY WITH A LIGHT MIST. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A FIELD ABOUT 16 MILES NORTH OF THE INTENDED AIRSTRIP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 362 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,743 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 4,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JEF Jefferson City MO
- Destination: K01 Auburn NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.