Piper PA-28-140 accident near Mapleton, Iowa, July 26, 1997
On July 26, 1997 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1690J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mapleton, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the cornfield in which the pilot was forced to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1997 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mapleton, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1690J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he had been flying for about four hours. Everything was operating normally when the engine suddenly quit, and he made a forced landing into a cornfield. The airplane was certified in the Experimental category and had modifications to include: vortex generators, propeller tip modifications, gap seals, new stabilizer tips, electronic ignition, oversized pistons, modified nose cowl, wheel pants, and add-on wingtip fuel tanks. The fuel system and electrical ignition system continuity were checked after the accident and no discrepancies were found. The pilot ran the engine before the airplane was removed from the cornfield. He reported that the engine started but ran rough. He put the wires back on properly, which had been damaged during the accident. He reported that it ran 'beautifully,' and that he could not find anything mechanically wrong with the airplane.
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: 1,007 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,121 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1997; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ETB West Bend WI at 4:15 pm
- Destination: BJC Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.