Piper PA 28-181 accident near Algona, Iowa, September 30, 2013
On September 30, 2013 at about 1:50 am local time, a 1978 Piper PA 28-181, registered N31688, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Algona, Iowa (Algona Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to ensure he had sufficient fuel on board to complete the planned flight. Contributing to the accident was the incomplete information provided by the airport's AWOS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2013 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Algona, Iowa · Algona Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181 181, built 1978 · all PA 28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N31688 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7890475
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off with 34 gallons of fuel onboard and flew to another airport to pick up his flight instructor for a flight review. He and his flight instructor then flew for about an hour and decided to divert to another en route airport to obtain fuel. While en route, they listened to the automated weather observation system (AWOS) for the airport, which provided the weather conditions but no notices to airmen (NOTAMs). The engine sputtered when they were about 1 mile from the airport. The pilot switched fuel tanks and engine power was regained. They circled the airport 3 times while trying to turn on the pilot-controlled runway lights. On the fourth pass, the engine lost power. The pilot made a hard landing short of the approach end of runway 12. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that no useable fuel remained in the fuel tanks. The airport was temporarily closed due to runway construction. The airport management had issued a NOTAM, crossed out the runway numbers, shut the airport beacon light off, and deactivated the pilot-controlled runway lights. The airport manager stated that they put the runway closure information on the AWOS but it kept dropping off.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during approach defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Availability of related info
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Airport personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 22, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,411 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,276 as pilot in command; 929 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,425 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEST Estherville IA
- Destination: KEST Estherville IA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from AXA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.