Cessna 172A accident near Hospers, Iowa, December 29, 1983
On December 29, 1983 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N7229T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hospers, Iowa. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- December 29, 1983 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hospers, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N7229T · registry record · serial 46829
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS ON A POWER LINE PATROL FLT & WAS FLYING APRX 60 TO 80 FT AGL. REPORTEDLY, HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT FOR ABOUT 1 MIN. WHEN THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT REAPPLIED THE HEAT & THE ENG RESTARTED FOR A MOMENT & THEN QUIT AGAIN. DURING A FORCED LANDING ON SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT & ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT FAILURE OR DEFICIENCY. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE -4 & -17 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, CARBURETOR ICING WOULD NOT BE PROBABLE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,058 hours in all; 345 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 15,725 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1983; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LJR Le Mars IA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: SHL Sheldon IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: -4°F (-20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.