Piper PA-28-181 accident near Leon, Iowa, July 27, 1985
On July 27, 1985 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8089C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leon, Iowa (Marshall Warren Private airport). It was a personal 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
- July 27, 1985 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Leon, Iowa · Marshall Warren Private · map
- 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
- N8089C · registry record · serial 28-7690102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT & ITS RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED. HE APPLIED POWER TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, BUT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HIT A FENCE POST APRX 10 FT SHORT OF THE RWY & FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE ACFT WAS LANDED, IT SETTLED ON ITS LEFT WING & WAS FURTHER DAMAGED.
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: 73 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AM4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNC Chariton IA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.