- Date
- July 23, 1984, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bertrand, NE
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19840723033751A19840723033752A
- Case key
- 33541
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
N3930E and N3968E had departed as a flight of two for aerial application. There was no record of preflight briefing or coordination planning. At completion of operations on the object field, N3930E advised N3968E by radio that he was making a final cleanup swath run toward the north along the west boundary of the field. During this swath run, he observed N3968E headed southbound and to the east of his position. On completion, N3930E pulled up, turned right and began a descent to make an eastbound cleanup run along the north boundary (no radio advisory). The two acft collided head-on, left wing to left wing, separating the left outboard wing panels. Both rolled left into subsequent uncontrolled collision with terrain.
N3930E and N3968E had departed as a flight of two for aerial application. There as no record of preflight briefing or coordination planning. At completion of operations on the object field, N3930E advised N3968E by radio that he was making a final cleanup swath run toward the north along the west boundary of the field. During this swath run, he observed N3968E headed southbound and to the east of his position. On completion, N3930E pulled up, turned right and began a descent to make an eastbound cleanup run along the north boundary (no radio advisory). The two acft collided head-on, left wing to left wing, separating the left outboard wing panels. Both rolled left into subsequent uncontrolled collision with terrain.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N3930E
- Reported as
- Piper PA 36-375
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 368302023
- Airframe hours
- 73
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-720-D1C, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Ace Aero Spray Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 12, 1984 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- Bertrand, 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.
- Registration
- N3968E
- Reported as
- Piper PA-36-375
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 368302024
- Airframe hours
- 73
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-720-D1C, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Ace Aero Spray Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 12, 1984 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- Bertrand, 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3930E
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,176 total · 53 in this make and model · 2,085 as pilot in command · 53 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3968E
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,275 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EAR, 32 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.