Piper PA-28-235 accident near Sully, Iowa, June 11, 2000
On June 11, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N9315W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sully, Iowa (Sully Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot inadvertently applied full flaps during the aborted landing and was not able to gain enough altitude to clear a fence post at the end of the airstrip. Factors associated with the accident were the trees at the approach end of the airstrip, the pilot initially landed long, the grass airstrip was wet, and the fence post which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sully, Iowa · Sully Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9315W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that due to obstacles at the approach end of the runway, he touched down approximately 1/3 the way down the 2,100 foot wet grass airstrip. He reported that he raised the flaps and applied the brakes, but the airplane was not going to stop on the remaining runway so he initiated a go around. He stated that he applied full power and lowered the flaps; however, he inadvertantly put the flaps in the full down position. The pilot kept the airplane on the ground until nearing the end of the runway to avoid stalling after takeoff. Just after lift off the right wing contacted a fence post near the end of the runway and the airplane came to rest in rough terrain.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 643 hours in all; 472 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1999; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IIB Independence IA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: IIB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,130 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.