Amateur-built DH 82A accident near Ames, Iowa, July 14, 1985
On July 14, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DH 82A, registered N657DH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ames, Iowa (Ames Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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 14, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ames, Iowa · Ames Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DH 82A
- Registration
- N657DH · no longer on the register · serial PG 657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER HAD GIVEN THE PLT PERMISSION TO FLY THE ACFT & THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS MAKING A HI SPEED TAXI RUN ON THE GRASS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. HE REPORTED THAT THE LOWER RIGHT WING IMPACTED A RWY MARKER, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT; THEN THE LEFT GEAR FAILED & THE TAIL ROSE HIGH ENOUGH FOR THE PROP TO HIT THE GROUND & BREAK. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SAID THAT THE ACFT WAS AIRBORNE WHEN SHE LOOKED IN THE MIRROR & SAW THE PLT GRAB FOR HIS HAT. THE NEXT THING SHE RECALLED WAS THAT THE ACFT HIT SOMETHING, THEN VEERED & CAME NOSE DOWN ON THE GRASS TERRAIN. REPORTEDLY, THE RWY MARKER WAS ONE THAT WAS REMAINING FROM A PERIOD WHEN THE RWY WAS A BROAD GRASS STRIP.
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: flight instructor, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,121 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3,848 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1984; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,770 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bristol GIPSY MAJOR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,747 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.