Piper PA28-151 accident near Anthon, Iowa, July 15, 1998
On July 15, 1998 at about 6:30 am local time, a Piper PA28-151, registered N1473X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anthon, Iowa. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's improper preflight planning, preparation and fuel management resulting in an unscheduled landing and impact with a pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1998 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Anthon, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-151 · all PA28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N1473X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7515404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an interview, the pilot stated that his time enroute to Ellen Church Field was 2-1/2 hours. Upon arrival, he visually checked the fuel level in each wing tank and stated that it was 'just below the tabs'. He did not obtain any additional fuel. The pilot reported that his cruise altitude on return to Columbus Municipal Airport was 3500' msl, the power was set to 2300 rpm and the mixture contol was retarded 1/4'. The pilot reported that the progression of his check points on return to Columbus Municipal Airport was as scheduled for approximately the first two hours, after which the flight progressed slower than planned and that the fuel gauges were now indicating 1/4 fuel in each tank. Moonlight was visible from the left side of the aircraft and lightening was visible from the right side. He also stated that he selected the right fuel tank to restart the engine since the left tank was empty and the engine stopped running. With 1/4 fuel remaining in the right tank, the pilot stated that he had only twelve minutes of fuel remaining, so he decided to look for a landing area. With thunderstorms between his location and Sioux Gateway Airport, near Sioux City, Iowa, he searched the area and decided to land on a black top road. He impacted a pole and did not want initiate a climb because he was unsure as to the condition of his flight controls. Inspection of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed that all the fuel sump valves and the fuel caps were in the closed position. Fuel was observed to be present in the left tank. The fuel selector was selected to the left tank. The FAA also confirmed that the pilot had been briefed on convective activity for his route of flight.
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: 110 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1998; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CJJ Cresco IA at 4:50 pm
- Destination: OLU Columbus NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 087° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:38 am from SUX, 20 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.