- Date
- July 13, 1985, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Iola, WI
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N1487APiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850713050199A
- Case key
- 13149
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
Upon takeoff at approximately 100 ft AGL the pilot experienced a partial power loss which necessitated a forced landing in a soft, wet potato field. The pilot had time to switch fuel tanks and magnetos prior to touchdown, but the power loss remained constant. Upon touchdown the aircraft flipped over on its back. The pilot stated that the pre- takeoff engine run-up and magneto check was normal. An examination of the engine revealed that 5 of the 8 spark plugs were lead fowled. Three were completely shorted out and two sparked intermittently. Two of the malfunctioning plugs were on the same cylinder.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1487A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22396
- Airframe hours
- 2,969
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sheldon D. Stevens
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1985 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- 68C · Iola, MN
- Destination
- ANE · Anoka, MN
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
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 469 total · 284 in this make and model · 440 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.