Quad City CHALLENGER accident near Wallingford, Iowa, June 2, 2021
On June 2, 2021, a 1995 Quad City CHALLENGER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3281P, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Wallingford, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Impact with trees and terrain during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2021
- Place
- Wallingford, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quad City CHALLENGER II, built 1995, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3281P · no longer on the register · serial CH2-0295B1280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot was attempting to depart from a residential driveway when the nonregistered, experimental, amateur-built airplane impacted trees. The pilot did not make the airplane available for examination, and whether any mechanical malfunctions contributed to the accident could not be determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KEST, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEST 012352Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/04 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP166 T02440039 10256 20228 56016
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Case Findings | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Estimated Flight Path from FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.