- Date
- September 1, 1997, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Monona, IA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6566WPiper PA-28
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970901024869A
- Case key
- 10691
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's improper in-flight planning/decision, and subsequently, his not being able to attain remedial action to avoid impact with the terrain. A related factor was the downdraft.
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
The pilot said that he was conducting a low level flight to inspect his crops. He said that when he attempted to gain altitude, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and he was unable to arrest the descent before impact with the terrain.
Factual narrative
On September 1, 1997, at 1100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6566W, sustained substantial damage on impact with the terrain while maneuvering at low altitude, near Monona, Iowa. The pilot said he was circling his property checking crops when the airplane struck the ground. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed about 1030.
The pilot stated that he was conducting low level flight to inspect his crops. He said he attempted to gain altitude to avoid contact with trees; however, the airplane encountered a downdraft and he was unable to arrest the descent prior to impact with the terrain.
Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6566W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-20647
- Airframe hours
- 2,429
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Archie C. Adney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 29, 1997 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- 7C3 · IA
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
- 85
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 740 total · 700 in this make and model · 700 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KDE, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.