Beech 36 and Cessna 182 accident near Davenport, Iowa, August 15, 1991
On August 15, 1991 at about 6:30 am local time, 2 aircraft, Beech 36 (N25496) and Cessna 182 (N97867), were involved in the same accident near Davenport, Iowa (Davenport airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S (N97867) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND POOR INFLIGHT/DECISION MAKING.
THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING BY THE PILOT OF N97867. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE INOPERATIVE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO COMMUNICATION NOT POSSIBLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1991 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · Davenport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N25496 · registry record · serial E-2305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N97867 · no longer on the register · serial 18267233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech 36 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL AT NIGHT, HE OBSERVED AN AIRCRAFT IN FRONT OF HIM THAT HAD JUST LANDED. THE ACFT THAT HAD JUST LANDED WAS NOT DISPLAYING ANY LIGHTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT HIS ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE LEAD ACFT AND BOTH ACFT CAME TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY. BOTH ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES TO THE PILOTS AND PASSENGERS.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE LOST HIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ENROUTE AND WAS WITHOUT LIGHTS OR COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY. A NIGHT LANDING WAS MADE AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER LANDING ACFT THAT WAS UNAWARE OF HIS PRESENCE.
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 for the Beech 36 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 157 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 239 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1991; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IOW Iowa City IA at 6:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:20 am from DVN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skycats Flying Club, INC
The flight
- Departed from: OXV Knoxville IA at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,801 ft by 100 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N25496 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.