Boeing E75 accident near Fairfield, Iowa, August 7, 1985
On August 7, 1985 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Boeing E75, registered N3994B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairfield, Iowa (Fairfield). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- August 7, 1985 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Iowa · Fairfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing E75 · all E75s on the register
- Registration
- N3994B · registry record · serial 75-5440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BEECH BARON DEPARTED JUST PRIOR TO N3994B. N3994B WAS HEAVILY LOADED AND ENCOUNTERED TURBLENCE AFTER LIFTING OFF. THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE RT UNTIL IT WAS OVER A CORN FIELD ABOUT 100 FT TO THE RT OF THE RWY. THE PLT TRIED TO CORRECT BACK TO THE RWY BUT THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND, HIT A FURROW AND NOSED OVER.
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: 3,898 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1985; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W WASP JR. (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from OTM, 21 miles away
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.