Beech D17S accident near Oelwein, Iowa, July 27, 1990
On July 27, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech D17S, registered N480, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oelwein, Iowa (Oelwein airport). 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
INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oelwein, Iowa · Oelwein · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D17S · all D17Ss on the register
- Registration
- N480 · registry record · serial 4810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A VFR CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT AND LAND. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, IN A TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURED ACFT, HE NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT ON THE RUNWAY, ABOUT 1000 FEET AHEAD. HE SAID THAT HE FELT HE COULD STOP, BUT VEERED TO THE LEFT FOR ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE, IF HE WERE UNABLE TO STOP ON THE WET RUNWAY. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE HARD SURFACED RUNAWAY, INTO SOFT, MUDDY TERRAIN, AND OVERTURNED.
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
- Flight time: 4,006 hours in all; 760 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOD Fort Dodge IA at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm from ALO, 25 miles away
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.