Piper PA-32-300 accident near Monticello, Iowa, October 15, 1985
On October 15, 1985 at about 7:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4KE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Iowa (Minicipal airport). It was a business 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
- October 15, 1985 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Iowa · Minicipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4KE · registry record · serial 32-7840078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD HAVE STRONG CROSS-WINDS FOR LANDING BUT WHEN HE WAS READY TO LAND, HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT FOR THEM. HE STARTED A GO-AROUND, HIT GUSTY WINDS THAT ROLLED HIM TO THE RIGHT AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE WOULD'NT CLIMB, THEY HIT A POWER-LINE WITH THE RIGHT TIP OR WHEELS.
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: 308 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 753 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DSM Des Moines IA at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CID, 30 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4KE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.