Piper PA-28-161 accident near Carroll, Iowa, February 16, 2004
On February 16, 2004 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2258M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carroll, Iowa (Arthur N. Neu Airport). 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
The pilot's misjudgment of altitude and distance, and his inadequate remedial action which resulted in the failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway. A factor was the snow covered terrain which was encountered by the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2004 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Carroll, Iowa · Arthur N. Neu Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2258M · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when the airplane undershot the runway during a landing. The airplane impacted a snowbank and slid onto the runway before coming to rest. The pilot stated that during his third landing he noticed his airspeed was at 70 knots, so he added power. He stated the power he added was not enough to keep the airplane from impacting the ground 35 feet short of the runway, 535 feet short of the displaced threshold. After contacting the ground, the nose gear collapsed and the propeller contacted the ground and runway. The airplane skidded to a stop and the pilot exited the airplane. No injuries were reported.
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
- Flight time: 139 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 40 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,744 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2003; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CIN Carroll IA at 9:40 pm
- Destination: CIN Carroll IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from FOD, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.