Piper PA-46-310P accident near Sioux Center, Iowa, October 14, 1991
On October 14, 1991 at about 11:15 am local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N1FY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sioux Center, Iowa (Sioux Center Muni. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND NOT PERFORMING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. WINDSHEAR WAS A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1991 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Sioux Center, Iowa · Sioux Center Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1FY · no longer on the register · serial 46-8408008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HIGH PERFORMANCE SINGLE ENGINE CORPORATE AIRPLANE COMMENCED ITS PRE-DAWN TAKEOFF ROLL WITH A LEFT FRONT, QUARTERING, CROSSWIND OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF EARLIER THAN THEY'VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND, DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND STRUCK A WIND SOCK POLE AND A WIND TEE. THE AIRPLANE WAS REESTABLISHED ON THE RUNWAY AND RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE WITH ITS LEFT WING, SEPARATING IT FROM THE FUSELAGE AT THE WING ROOT. THE AIRPLANE THEN COLLIDED WITH A ROAD EMBANKMENT WENT OVER IT, AND CAME TO REST IN A PLOWED FIELD.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Interstate Elect. & Eng. CO.
The flight
- Destination: CPS St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,002 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 315° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:43 pm from SUX, 44 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.