Amateur-built JRF accident near Adel, Iowa, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built JRF, registered N560A, was destroyed in an accident near Adel, Iowa (Husband airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1982 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Adel, Iowa · Husband · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JRF
- Registration
- N560A · registry record · serial 22
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER/PILOT OF THE HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. WHILE CLIMBING AFTER THE SECOND TOUCH-AND-GO, THE LEFT WING SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 3/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON ONE OF THE LANDINGS, THE PLANE HIT RATHER HARD; REPORTEDLY, HE COULD TELL THAT IT HIT HARD BY THE NOISE IT MADE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT WING REVEALED THAT THE WOODEN MAIN SPAR HAD BROKEN NEAR THE END OF THE FUSELAGE CARRY THROUGH. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF DETERIORATION OF THE WOOD IN THE VICINITY OF THE BREAK. THE MAIN GEAR ON THIS AIRCRAFT DID NOT INCORPORATE A SHOCK STRUT. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS ATTACHED TO THE WING SPAR AND THE TIRES ABSORBED SHOCK DURING LANDINGS AND GROUND OPERATIONS.
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: 348 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,290 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K25 Adel IA at 6:10 pm
- Destination: K25 Adel IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,650 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DSM, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.