Piper PA-28-140 accident near Ames, Iowa, November 5, 1992
On November 5, 1992 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N16231, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ames, Iowa (Ames Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE AIRCRAFT'S MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1992 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Ames, Iowa · Ames Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N16231 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 200 FT, THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DECREASE AND THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO 'WIND DOWN.' A WITNESS STATED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ROTATE DURING THE TAKEOFF UNTIL IT WAS 3/4 TO 7/8 THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. JUST PRIOR TO THE HEARING THE IMPACT, HE STATED HE SAW THE AIRPLANE AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 50 FT AGL. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS REVEALED THE AIRPLANE WAS APRX 178 POUNDS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT.
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: 65 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,261 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 25, 1992; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: North Star Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AMW at 2:58 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,492 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft; not recorded at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am from DSM, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.