Cessna 172E accident near Grundy Center, Iowa, May 31, 1991
On May 31, 1991 at about 11:20 am local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N3663S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grundy Center, Iowa. 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
FAILURE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO INSTALL A SAFETY WIRE AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1991 · about 11:20 am local time
- Place
- Grundy Center, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3663S · registry record · serial 17250863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE REPORTED THE ENGINE SPUTTERING 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE CONTACTED AN APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY AND OBTAINED A STEER TO THE NEAREST AIRFIELD, BUT LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AND LANDED IN A FARM FIELD. THE WRECKAGE SHOWED FUEL STAINS ALONG THE LOWER FUSELAGE FROM FIREWALL AFT. FUEL STAINS COMMENCED AT THE FUEL STRAINER. THE STRAINER BOWL HAD NO SAFETY WIRE INSTALLED.
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: 754 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 705 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,020 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1991; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DSM Des Moines IA at 10:40 am
- Destination: INL Intern'L Falls MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am 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.