Bellanca DW-1 accident near Grinnell, Iowa, July 19, 1993
On July 19, 1993 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Bellanca DW-1, registered N8815W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grinnell, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 loss of engine power due to undetermined reason(s). A factor in the accident is the soft field landing site.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1993 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grinnell, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca DW-1
- Registration
- N8815W · no longer on the register · serial DW10095-83
- 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 STATED HE WAS TAKING OFF IN THE AG SPRAY PLANE TO BEGAN AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT OVER NEARBY FIELDS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE SAID THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE AIRPLANE MORE THAN 100' TO 150' ABOVE THE GROUND. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE DESPITE FULL THROTTLE. HE MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING ON A SOFT FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: 2,400 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1993; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming M1B5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lowry Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.