Piper PA-28-140 accident near Manning, Iowa, July 31, 1991
On July 31, 1991 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N423FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manning, Iowa. 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SELECTION OF FUEL TANKS AND IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1991 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Manning, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N423FL · registry record · serial 28-7125204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE EXPERIENCED WING HEAVINESS FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER. HE SAID THAT HE FAILED TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR LEVER IN THE PROPER POSITION. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED IN A CORN FIELD WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL AIRFRAME DAMAGE. THE FUEL SELECTOR LEVER WAS FOUND TO BE POSITIONED ON THE EMPTY TANK.
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: 93 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Parmley Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: FOD Ft. Dodge IA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: CBF Council Bluffs IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:50 pm from OMA, 10 miles away
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.