Piper PA-42-720 accident near Ames, Iowa, January 31, 2002
On January 31, 2002, a Piper PA-42-720, registered N66MT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ames, Iowa (Ames Municipal Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the final portion of the approach. Factors relating to this accident were the low altitude and the utility pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2002
- Place
- Ames, Iowa · Ames Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-42-720 · all PA-42-720s on the register
- Registration
- N66MT · registry record · serial 42-5501009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was on the glide slope for an ILS approach. The pilot said, "The auto pilot was coupled on to the approach. The autopilot also coupled on to the Glide slope. Approximately 2-1/2 to 3 miles out, we visually had approach lights and runway lights. I then disconnected the auto pilot and yaw damper, and hand flew a visual approach using the glide slope indicator as a cross check for a correct glide path to the airport. Continuing visually on the approach, I checked the GS (glide slope) and it indicated we were slightly above glide path, but was corrected, and seconds later hit a pole going through electrical wires, coming to rest short of the approach lights and to the right." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. An examination of the ILS approach to the runway showed the facility operated satisfactorily.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 9,050 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-41 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-41 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Denver CO at 10:30 pm
- Destination: AMW Ames IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 01, 5,700 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI02LA075.