Piper J3 accident near Creston, Iowa, May 11, 1991
On May 11, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper J3, registered N88441, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creston, Iowa (Creston 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
ICING IN THE INDUCTION AIR CONTROL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Creston, Iowa · Creston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 · all J3s on the register
- Registration
- N88441 · registry record · serial 16061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ROUGH UNEVEN TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING, AFTER LOSING PARTIAL ENGINE POWER DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE EXPERIMENTAL (EXHIBITION) CERTIFICATED AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED BY REDUCING THE WINGSPAN AND THE INSTALLATION OF AN ENGINE MODIFIED FOR FUEL INJECTED OPERATION. NO PROVISIONS FOR INDUCTION SYSTEM HEATING OR A MEANS OF PROVIDING AN ALTERNATE AIR SOURCE WERE INCLUDED IN THE MODIFICATION. NO DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT.
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: 500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,910 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.