- Date
- January 12, 1991, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ashland, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2115APiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910112000489A
- Case key
- 14989
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance above the terrain. Factors related to the accident were the low pass and ostentatious display.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses said that they observed two aircraft flying about 3 feet over the frozen, snow covered river. One of the aircraft skimmed the snow covered surface with its main gear, then nosed over. The acft left tracks in the snow, about 360 feet prior to the nose over. Post accident investigation revealed no mechanical malfunction or fuel shortage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2115A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-1846
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Edward L. Base
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 7, 1990
- Departed
- MLE · Millard, NE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 2,300 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 2,250 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 18 °F
- Observed at
- OFF, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.