Piper PA-22 accident near Iola, Wisconsin, July 13, 1985
On July 13, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N1487A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iola, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Iola, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N1487A · registry record · serial 22396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON TAKEOFF AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FT AGL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS WHICH NECESSITATED A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT, WET POTATO FIELD. THE PILOT HAD TIME TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND MAGNETOS PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE POWER LOSS REMAINED CONSTANT. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PRE- TAKEOFF ENGINE RUN-UP AND MAGNETO CHECK WAS NORMAL. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT 5 OF THE 8 SPARK PLUGS WERE LEAD FOWLED. THREE WERE COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT AND TWO SPARKED INTERMITTENTLY. TWO OF THE MALFUNCTIONING PLUGS WERE ON THE SAME CYLINDER.
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: 469 hours in all; 284 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 440 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,969 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 68C Iola MN at 11:27 pm
- Destination: ANE Anoka MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.