# NTSB MKC88LA004: Piper PA-28-140, N4477X, Storm Lake, IA, October 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1987, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Storm Lake, IA
- Coordinates: 42.639892, -95.190498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6399&lon=-95.1905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34511/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA004

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear strut - separation (contributing factor)
  - stabilizer - foreign object damage (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

WHILE PRACTICING AN APPROACH TO LNDG STALL, THE STU PLT STATED THAT THE ENG FAILED TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE ADVANCEMENT. AFTER UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTING EMERGENCY PROCS TO INCLUDE CARB HEAT, FUEL PUMP, AND SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, HE SELECTED A FLD. PRIOR TO T/D, THE ENG REGAINED PWR AND THE LNDG WAS ABORTED. DURING CLIMBOUT, THE RT GEAR TORE OFF AFTER COLLISION WITH A FENCE. THE LNDG GEAR STRUCK AND DMGD THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR. THE STU PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND WAS ADVISED, BY RADIO, OF THE MISSING GEAR. HE THEN CIRCLED UNTIL THE LOCAL FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND THEN ATMPTED A LNDG. THE ACFT NOSED DOWN DURING LNDG AND TORE OFF THE NOSE GEAR AND DAMAGED THE RT WING. THE STU PLT STATED THE DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LESS IF HE HAD CONTINUED WITH HIS INITIAL EMERGENCY LNDG IN THE FLD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4477X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4477X-1995-08-23), registration cancelled 1995-08-23, S/N 287625041 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-7625041
- Airframe hours: 3285
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bart'S Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 8, 1987, 85 hours before
- Departed: SLB, STORM LAKE, IA
- Airport: SLB, Storm Lake, runway 31, 3,000 × 50 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 16; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19871012059829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871012059829A), Oct 12, 1987: Piper PA28140, Storm Lake, IA, Substantial damage. Had temporary engine failure. Hit a fence on go around when engine caught. Crash landed minus a gear at home field.

## Other investigations on N4477X (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI93LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA326), Aug 17, 1993: Piper PA-28-140 (N4477X), Marshall, MN, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO DEPART AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH FORECASTED IMC EN ROUTE AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.