Piper PA-38-112 accident near Sheldon, Iowa, June 23, 1985
On June 23, 1985 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N6209A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheldon, Iowa (Sheldon Muni airport). 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
- June 23, 1985 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sheldon, Iowa · Sheldon Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N6209A · no longer on the register · serial 3878A0345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN ON LANDING, THE ACFT VEERED LEFT, WENT INTO A CORN FIELD & NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE LET THE NOSE WHEEL CONTACT THE RWY BEFORE HE NEUTRALIZED THE RUDDER CONTROL. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NNE AT 13 KTS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,464 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EST Esterville IA at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 022° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.