Piper PA-11 accident near Thedford, Nebraska, April 24, 1990
On April 24, 1990 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N78812, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thedford, Nebraska (Thomas CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND WHILE LANDING RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1990 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Thedford, Nebraska · Thomas CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N78812 · no longer on the register · serial 11-1585
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURED ACFT, DURING GUSTY, CROSS WIND CONDITIONS, THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: 114 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AIA Alliance NE at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 5V3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MHN, 10 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.