Beech A36 accident near Algona, Iowa, July 2, 2004
On July 2, 2004 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N3248T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Algona, Iowa. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the connecting rod which resulted in the loss of engine power during cruise flight and subsequent forced landing. A contributing factor was the delayed lowering of the landing gear in order to clear the other vehicle encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2004 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Algona, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N3248T · registry record · serial E-2948
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a road. The pilot reported that while in level flight the engine "blew up." He executed a forced landing on a road and elected to delay lowering of the landing gear until the airplane had cleared a car that was traveling in the opposite direction. Once clear of the car, the pilot lowered the landing gear, but it did not fully extend due to the low altitude. Examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase adjacent to the number 6 connecting rod journal. Additionally, the number 6 connecting rod and piston were found fractured. No determination could be made regarding the failure of the connecting rod.
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: 6,933 hours in all; 5,868 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 6,834 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,334 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2004; 274 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550B6F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCW Mason City IA at 3:00 am
- Destination: FSD Sioux Falls SD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from KAXA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.