Piper PA-28-140 accident near Traer, Iowa, June 8, 1999
On June 8, 1999, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4525R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Traer, Iowa (Traer Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's not maintaining proper runway alignment during the aborted takeoff, and the airport personnel not maintaining the runway. Factors were rough terrain and a dirt bank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1999
- Place
- Traer, Iowa · Traer Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4525R · registry record · serial 28-21228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aborted takeoff, the airplane impacted a dirt pile and received substantial damage. The pilot said on the previous landing the runway was rough, so he elected to use a soft field takeoff technique. He said that the airplane did not seem to accelerate and he decided to abort the takeoff when the airplane reached 60 MPH. He said that the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway and during the rollout, he was unable to maneuver to avoid impacting a mound of dirt. Subsequent to the accident an examination of the runway found a dirt mound approximately 10 feet in diameter and 3 feet high which extended into the runway about 5 feet. After it was brought to the attention of airport management, the dirt mound was removed.
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: 69 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,013 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 13, 1999; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8C6
- Destination: MIW Marshalltown IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,555 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°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.