Cessna 182A accident near Shenandoah, Iowa, October 3, 2003
On October 3, 2003 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3772D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shenandoah, Iowa (Shenandoah Municipal Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during cruise and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. The factors to the accident were the dark night, the corn crop, and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2003 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Shenandoah, Iowa · Shenandoah Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3772D · no longer on the register · serial 34472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a ditch during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the engine "popped" twice and the airplane lost engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot-rated passenger prepared for an emergency landing at the destination airport. They realized the airplane would land short of the airport and prepared to "ditch." The airplane touched down in a cornfield and subsequently impacted a ditch. An FAA inspector examined the airplane subsequent to the accident and found five gallons of fuel in the left tank. The fuel tank strainer and fittings were pulled from the right wing. The strainer was destroyed, but had no signs of blockage previous to the accident. No fuel was observed in the right tank or in the fuel inlet line of the carburetor. The airframe and engine were examined and no anomalies were found.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 560 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 475 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
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
- Flight time: 1,020 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 890 as pilot in command; 445 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTO Mattoon IL at 11:20 pm
- Destination: LNK Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; ovct at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from SDA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.