Cessna 182 accident near Forest City, Iowa, July 20, 1985
On July 20, 1985 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5699B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forest City, Iowa (Forest City Muni airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- July 20, 1985 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Forest City, Iowa · Forest City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5699B · no longer on the register · serial 18233699
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF WITH 4 SKYDIVERS ON BOARD, ITS ENG SEIZED AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 300 TO 400 FT. THE PLT SELECTED THE BEST AVAILABLE AREA TO LAND WHICH WAS A FIELD OF TALL CORN ON ROLLING TERRAIN. DURING THE EMERG LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. LATER, THE ENG WAS DISASSEMBLED & APRX 1 QT OF FINELY GROUND FERREOUS MATERIAL WAS FOUND DEPOSITED IN THE LOWER OIL PAN. THE MAIN BEARINGS WERE FOUND SCORED & DISCOLORED, & THE MAIN BEARING SHELLS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING. THE CONNECTING RODS WERE ALSO DISCOLORED FROM HEAT. THE SCREEN CHAMBER OF THE OIL PUMP WAS FOUND FULL OF FERROUS METAL WHICH SHUT OFF THE OIL SUPPLY TO THE OIL PUMP GEARS. THE FAA MAINT INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE ENG STATED THAT THE FERROUS MATERIAL FOUND IN THE ENG & BOTTOM PAN WAS NOT FROM THE ENG. THE SOURCE OF THE MATERIAL WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 352 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 299 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.