Piper PA-28-180 accident near Marion, Iowa, October 3, 2004
On October 3, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7841N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Iowa (Marion 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's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors to the accident were the encountered turbulence, the gusting wind conditions and the airport hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Iowa · Marion Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7841N · no longer on the register · serial 28-5296
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted an airport hangar while attempting a go-around. The pilot reported that he elected to go-around after encountering turbulence during landing approach to runway 17. The pilot stated "it felt like a gust of wind went under my right wing & belly and just started pushing me over, to the left. I immediately applied right rudder and aileron as hard as I could and tried to push the nose down but there was no response." The pilot reported he "didn't have a chance to put flaps back up or try to cut power." The pilot stated the airplane went "up and over" to the left and impacted the airport hangar. A nearby weather observing station reported the winds at the time of the accident were 200 degrees true at 15 knots, gusting to 19 knots.
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: 86 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 3, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,522 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLI Moline IL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: C17 Marion IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,775 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: vv; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from CID, 12 miles away
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.