Aviat A-1B accident near Berwyn, NE
On March 6, 2021, an Aviat A-1B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Berwyn, NE. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 6, 2021
- Place
- Berwyn, NE
- Aircraft
- Aviat A-1B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.197°N, 99.484°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210307102722
Official records · CEN21FA150
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 6, 2021, about 0610 central standard time, an Aviat A-1B airplane, N166WW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Berwyn, Nebraska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The purpose of the flight was to fly from the pilot’s private runway to Holyoke, Colorado for an annual inspection. About 0555, primary radar first picked up the airplane about 1/2 mile south of the private runway. The airplane track proceeded generally west-southwest for about 11 miles when it made a left turn toward the south at a speed of about 88 knots. The track then made right 360-degree turn; during which, the speed of the airplane increased to about 114 knots. Followed by a tighter 360-degree turn at 49 knots and decreasing. The track then zig zagged at an average of 30 knots until 0609 when the track terminated about 1,000 ft from the accident site. A GPS was recovered from the accident site; however, the unit and memory card exhibited extensive impact damage and data was unable to be extracted. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on May 26, 1969. The pilot flew the accident airplane regularly over his land and pastures; and was used to maneuvering at low altitudes. It was not abnormal for him to takeoff before sunrise, especially if he needed to get somewhere and return in the same day. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONAt the time of the accident the moon was 22.97 degrees above the horizon in third quarter phase. Its illumination was 45.1
Probable cause
A loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain as a result of spatial disorientation during cruise in dark night conditions.
More accidents in NE
- Piper PA-32R-300, Oct 16, 1993
- Piper PA-31, Apr 14, 1986
- Raytheon Aircraft Company 58, Jan 11, 2013
- Cessna 210H, Jan 19, 1986
- Beech C35, Jun 17, 1984
Browse: Nebraska · Aviat aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
