Piper PA-36-375 accident near Deloit, Iowa, April 29, 1992
On April 29, 1992 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-375, registered N3986E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deloit, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1992 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Deloit, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N3986E · no longer on the register · serial 36-7902030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF A POWER TRANSMISSION WIRE ARRAY WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS. HE STATED HIS CONCENTRATION WAS ON MAINTAINING CLEARANCE FROM THREE LARGE DIAMETER WIRES COMPRISING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ARRAY. HE FAILED TO SEE THE SMALLER WIRES OF THE UPPER PORTION UNTIL THE 'LAST SPLIT SECOND' BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE WIRES REMAINED INTACT AND THE AIRPLANE REBOUNDED 300 FEET INTO A SMALL POND WHERE IT LANDED UPRIGHT.
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: 5,618 hours in all; 2,682 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3.5 in the last 30 days; 5,536 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,631 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-D1CD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKI Sac City IA at 12:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.