Piper PA-32-301 accident near Norfolk, Nebraska, December 29, 1989
On December 29, 1989 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8157R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfolk, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN DIVERTING TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1989 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8157R · no longer on the register · serial 32-8006066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT ENCTRD HEADWINDS, BUT HE THOUGHT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE FLT. HOWEVER, DURING A VOR APCH TO LAND AT NIGHT, HE ENCTRD LOW CLOUDS & WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT AT THE MISSED APCH POINT (MAP). HE EXECUTED A MISSED APCH & CONTACTED MINNEAPOLIS CENTER 'FOR ALTERNATE AIRPORT WITH ILS OR KNOWN VFR CONDITIONS DUE TO FUEL CONCERN.' VECTORS WERE PROVIDED, BUT HIS FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED BEFORE REACHING A SUITABLE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A CATTLE FEED LOT. BEFORE STOPPING, THE ACFT HIT A FEED TROUGH & WAS DAMAGED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 273 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RFD Rockford IL at 8:22 pm
- Destination: ONL Norfolk NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.