Piper PA-28-161 accident near Elkader, Iowa, October 24, 1989
On October 24, 1989 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N36163, was destroyed in an accident near Elkader, Iowa (Elkader airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE RUNWAY MARKER AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1989 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Elkader, Iowa · Elkader · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N36163 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816617
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED TO THE FAR END OF THE 1860 FT RWY, AND THE PIC ADDED FULL POWER AND BEGAN A TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE SOUTH. AN EYEWITNESS STATED THE ACFT GAINED SPEED AND ROSE FROM THE GROUND, THEN HE TURNED HIS ATTENTION AWAY FM THE ACFT. THE WITNESS THEN HEARD THE AIRCRAFT STRIKE A RWY END MARKER CONSISTING OF 3 PALETTES WIRED IN A PYRAMIND. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE HIGH AND ENTERED A STEEP BANK TO THE LEFT AS THOUGH RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. THE ACFT CRASHED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE DURING THE TAKEOFF, THEREBY RESTRICTING ITS MOVEMENT, AND ULTIMATELY, AIRCRAFT CONTROL. NO PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED WITH EITHER THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: 125 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,020 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1989; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Pritts Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: C22 Elkader IA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: SPW Spencer IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,760 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DBQ, 41 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.
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.