- Date
- June 1, 1998, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Norfolk, NE
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6847ECessna 175A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980601011569A
- Case key
- 10904
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 misjudged wind conditions and his not obtaining/maintaining compensation for wind conditions. A factor was a sudden wind shift.
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
After takeoff the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the terrain. The pilot said that he believes that the airplane encountered a wind shift. The airplane departed on runway 31. The reported winds six minutes prior to the accident were 270 degrees at 23 knots with gusts to 27 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 1, 1998, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 175A, N6847E, operated by a private pilot descended into the terrain after liftoff from runway 31 (5,160' x 100' dry/asphalt) at Karl Stefan Memorial Airport, near Norfolk, Nebraska. The airplane was destroyed on impact with the terrain and a post accident fire. The pilot and two passengers reported minor injuries. The pilot stated that the airplane may have encountered windshear and was unable to climb. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot said that the airplane lifted off at about 65 knots. He said that when the airplane reached an altitude of about 200 to 300 feet, the airplane began to descend and he was unable to get the airplane to maintain flight. He said, "I believe the sole cause of the accident to be a change in wind direction and/or velocity, complicated by large groves of trees to the west of the runway ... ." He said that there was no mechanical failure or loss of power in the airplane. He said that just prior to impact he extended the flaps to full.
The departure was on runway 31. The winds recorded at the departure airport six minutes prior to the accident were 270 degrees at 23 knots with gusts to 27 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6847E
- Reported as
- Cessna 175A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 56347
- Engine
- Continental GO-300-C, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Cynthia L. Tolle
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- OFK
- Destination
- SPF · Spearfish, SD
- Airport
- OFK · Stefan Municipal, runway 31, 5,160 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,500 total · 70 in this make and model · 70 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 23 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OFK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.