Piper PA-36-375 accident near Storm Lake, Iowa, June 19, 1984
On June 19, 1984 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-375, registered N3953E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Storm Lake, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 19, 1984 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Storm Lake, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N3953E · no longer on the register · serial 36-7802068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE 2ND SWATH RUN, THE PLT MANEUVERED THE ACFT TO CROSS UNDER POWER LINES BORDERING THE EDGE OF THE CORN FIELD. HE SAID HE MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER & RUDDER STRUCK THE LINES & WERE TORN FROM THE ACFT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER INTO A FIELD THAT LAY AHEAD, BUT THE ACFT BEGAN ROTATING TO THE RIGHT & DESCENDING. IT THEN STRUCK THE GROUND, RIGHT WING 1ST & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 570 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1984; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLB Storm Lake IA at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from SUX, 60 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.