Piper PA-28-181 accident near Des Moines, Iowa, June 7, 1985
On June 7, 1985 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N3502M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 7, 1985 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Des Moines, Iowa · Des Moines
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N3502M · registry record · serial 28-7890307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FULL STOP LANDING THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES TO ARREST THE LANDING ROLL AND UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, THE ACFT VEERED SLOWLY TO THE LEFT WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. THE CHECK PLT APPLIED HIS BRAKES TO ASSIST THE PLT, BUT WITHOUT ANY EFFECT. THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE ACFT BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED 140 FLT HOURS PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. THE ACFT IS USED EXTENSIVELY FOR STUDENT PLT TRAINING. THE ACFT BRAKE SYSTEM SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BRAKE LININGS. THE BRAKE LINING PUCKS EXCEEDED THEIR EFFECTIVE LIMIT WHICH ALLOWED HYDRAULIC FLUID BLEED-BY.
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: 164 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 94 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 848 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1985; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DSM Des Moines IA at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,202 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DSM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.