Piper PA-32-300 accident near Marshalltown, Iowa, July 29, 1994
On July 29, 1994 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N8144Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshalltown, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1994 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Marshalltown, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N8144Y · registry record · serial 32-7940277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND REDUCTION IN CLIMB AIRSPEED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. SHE SAID SHE LEVELED THE AIRPLANE'S ATTITUDE AND REGAINED ITS ORIGINAL CLIMB SPEED. SHE SAID THAT 'THE LEVEL ATTITUDE...SEEMED TO STABILIZE EVERYTHING.' BECAUSE OF THIS THE PILOT SAID SHE DECIDED TO LAND ON A CROSS RUNWAY. DURING THE TURN THE PILOT REPORTED A FURTHER POWER LOSS. SHE SAID SHE DECIDED TO LAND ON A GRASSY STRIP LOCATED BETWEEN A CORN FIELD AND DITCH. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCH DOWN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DROPPED INTO A DITCH AND BROKE OFF. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION AND FUEL SYSTEM FLOW CHECK REVEALED NO ANOMALIES THAT WOULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM DEVELOPING POWER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,095 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 895 as pilot in command; 23 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,266 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AUM Austin MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ALO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.