Piper PA-24-250 accident near Correctionville, Iowa, May 11, 1997
On May 11, 1997 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7729P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Correctionville, Iowa (Private Airstrip airport). 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, while taxiing, which resulted in loss of aircraft control, an encounter with terrain, and subsequent failure of the left main landing gear. The unfavorable wind condition was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1997 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Correctionville, Iowa · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7729P · registry record · serial 24-2943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after landing and while making a wide right turn to back taxi, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off to the left side of the runway. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the left main gear brace support bracket and pivot bolt failed due to overload conditions.
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: 2,986 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IKV Ankeny IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 20 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from SUX, 28 miles away
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.