Cessna 152 accident near Norwalk, Iowa, March 14, 1985
On March 14, 1985 at about 5:09 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67399, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norwalk, Iowa. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 14, 1985 · about 5:09 pm local time
- Place
- Norwalk, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67399 · no longer on the register · serial 15281815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROACHING DES MOINES AIRPORT THE PLT RPTD TO APPROACH CONTROL OF ENG PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT AIRPORT WAS CLOSE FOR AN PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO LAND AT AN AIRSTRIP 3 MI EAST OF HIS PRESENT POSN. UNABLE TO LAND AT THE AIRSTRIP THE ACFT MADE A LANDING TO A FIELD WHERE IT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR. FATIGUE PROGRESSION WAS EVIDENT ON THE FRACTURE SURFACES EXAMINED. ALSO NOTED WAS AN ELLIPTICAL DEFORMATION OF THE THREADED PORTION OF THE RETAINING BOLT BELOW THE BOLT HEAD. THIS DEFORMATION WAS OF THE SAME THICKNESS AS THE BOLTFLANGE AND LOCKNUT PLATE. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES GAVE NO EVIDENCE OF UNUSUAL CONTACT OR WEAR PATTERN PRIOR TO FAILURE.
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: student
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,773 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLE Omaha NE at 4:00 pm
- Destination: DSM Des Moines IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from DSM, 6 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.