Piper PA-32-260 accident near Newton, Iowa, June 12, 1983
On June 12, 1983 at about 5:00 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5509V, was destroyed in an accident near Newton, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- June 12, 1983 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Newton, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5509V · no longer on the register · serial 32-7700016
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOOK OFF ON A X-COUNTRY FLT AT NIGHT. WHEN ADVISED OF WX ALONG HIS ROUTE, HE REQUESTED & RECIEVED RADAR ADVISORIES. A SHORT TIME LATER, HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN A STORM. FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE RADAR CONTROLLER WAS COMMUNICATING WITH THE PLT WHILE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE. DURING THAT TIME, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN TERRIBLE WX CONDITIONS & HAD ENCOUNTERED BAD TURBULENCE. THE PASSENGER THEN BEGAN TO TALK ON THE RADIO FOR THE PLT. HE REPORTED THAT THEY WERE 'IN TROUBLE, IN BIG TROUBLE' & THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO FLY STRAIGHT & LEVEL. THE PASSENGER'S LAST TRANSMISSION WAS: 'WE'RE 2000 GOING UP & DOWN, WE'RE GOING DOWN.' A FARMER WAS AWAKEN BY THE ACFT CIRCLING HIS HOUSE. HE HEARD THE ACFT CLIMBING & DIVING BEFORE IT CRASHED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED RISING GROUND IN AN AREA OF ROLLING TERRAIN. THE WITNESS SAID THE WIND WAS BLOWING & RAIN WAS FALLING. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 886 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1982; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DSM Des Moines IA at 5:33 am
- Destination: FFL Fairfield IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 am from DSM, 30 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.