Event CEN21FA150

Factual narrative

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% of the moon’s full potential. There were no high-altitude cloud layers. Dawn started at 0636 and sunrise was at 0704. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane impacted a field perpendicular to a gully in a very rural area; the debris field was about 300 ft long. The first identified point of impact was a long narrow area of disturbed dirt with the right wingtip nearby. Next were two slash marks consistent with propeller blade slices; followed by a large area of disturbed dirt with propeller blade fragments. The main wreckage came to rest at the bottom of the gully; the last major piece of debris was the engine. The airframe came to rest in a ball and exhibited extensive thermal damage. The fabric was completely gone and only the frame remained. Flight control continuity was mostly established throughout the airframe. The rudder controls were untraceable within the cockpit area; they were in an area of melted material. Both composite propeller blades were fracture separated at the blade root, and one blade was also fractured midspan. Both blades exhibited chordwise scratching on the face and chamber sides. The engine was found fracture separated from the airframe; it exhibited extensive thermal damage and there were no visual signs of catastrophic anomalies. The firewall was removed, and the engine was attached to an engine hoist for further examination. The spark plugs were removed and consistent with normal operations. The fuel flow divider was disassembled, and fuel residue was present. The fuel servo remained attached, but the engine controls were fracture separated consistent with impact damage. The valve covers were removed, and the valves were unremarkable. The crankshaft was rotated by the propeller hub and continuity was established to the accessory section. Thumb compression was established on all cylinders and the valves moved accordingly. The engine was borescoped; the cylinder walls, piston heads, and valves displayed normal operating signatures. Spark was obtained on the right magneto; the left magneto was unable to be rotated and exhibited heavy thermal damage. The ignition harness was unable to be functionally tested due to damage consistent with impact. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot with positive results for Diltiazem and Warfarin in the liver and muscle. ‘ Diltiazem is a prescription blood pressure medication that may also be used to treat fast heart rates associated with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm. Warfarin is a blood thinner used to prevent blood clots in patients with previous ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation, or other forms of blood clots. Neither are generally considered impairing. Primary radar first picked up the airplane about 0555, 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. The airplane impacted a field perpendicular to a gully in a very rural area; the debris field was about 300 ft long. The first identified point of impact was a long narrow area of disturbed dirt with the right wingtip nearby. Next were two slash marks consistent with propeller blade slices; followed by a large area of disturbed dirt with propeller blade fragments. The main wreckage came to rest at the bottom of the gully; the last major piece of debris was the engine. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot flew the accident airplane regularly over his land and pastures. It was not abnormal for him to takeoff before sunrise despite not holding an instrument rating. At the time of the accident the moon was 22.97 degrees above the horizon at third quarter phase. Its illumination was 45.1% of the moon’s full potential. There were no high-altitude cloud layers to block the moonlight. Therefore, it was dark with the exception of any ground lights and moon illumination. The flight track immediately before the accident was consistent with a pilot experiencing spatial disorientation and subsequently losing airplane control. Several factors support this conclusion, which include the low moonlight; few ground lights in a rural area; the pilot’s lack of instrument rating; and the airplane’s abrupt roll, heading, and speed changes leading up to the accident site. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• — Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Spatial disorientation-Pilot
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
• — Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel