- Date
- April 2, 1989, 16:11 local (22:11 UTC)
- Place
- Papillion, NE
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N81VPSchmahl Volksplane VP-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890402005059A
- Case key
- 34655
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 failed to maintain the proper climb rate and inadvertently stalled the aircraft which entered an uncontrolled descent into an open field.
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 stated that the airplane was flying at a low altitude and then went into a steep climb. The airplane banked to the left and the nose dipped before spiraling into the ground. Investigation failed to find any failure/malfunction of the airframe or powerplant.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N81VP
- Reported as
- Schmahl Volksplane VP-1 (VOLKSPLANE)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- V-2499
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1500, 65 lbs thrust, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Schmahl, Edward F.
- Registered owner
- Schmahl, Edward F
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Papillion, 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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 300 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.