Piper PA-28-180 accident near Iowa Falls, Iowa, November 22, 1998
On November 22, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N2691T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iowa Falls, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper preflight planning and preparation, and his not refueling the airplane. Factors were fuel exhaustion and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iowa Falls, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2691T · registry record · serial 28-7205065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he departed Kansas City. Missouri, and flew to Fairbault, Minnesota. He then continued en route to Ames, Iowa. While in cruise flight the engine lost power and he switched fuel tanks; however, was unable to reach his destination when the engine again lost power. The pilot said that the airplane suffered fuel exhaustion. An examination of the airplane after the accident indicated no usable fuel in either fuel tank. No fuel stains were found on the bottom of the airplane or around the accident site. No fuel leaks were found around the fuel lines, from the fuel tanks to the engine. The fuel caps did not indicate any leaks.
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: 137 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 89 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1998; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FBL Fairbault MN at 4:44 pm
- Destination: AMW Ames IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 17 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from FOD, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.