Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Liberty, Iowa 52001
Friday, January 12, 1996 15:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported the airplane made a normal touchdown on the grass airstrip. When he applied the brakes to stop, the airplane skid as if it was on ice. To avoid impacting a parked airplane and a fence located at the end of the runway, the pilot applied full power and full right rudder to turn the airplane. The airplane went into a bean field, and its left wing impacted a fence post. The pilot stated that the airstrip looked dry, but it was wet and muddy because the snow had recently melted leaving the ground very soft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and an intentional ground loop/swerve. A factor in the accident was the wet grass runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/12/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City WEST LIBERTY
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52001
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 20
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 16 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1047
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8221W
NTSB Number CHI96LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180C
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180C
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2354
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 1735
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT L. & JEAN R. DUNN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3431 ELM DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City NORTH LIBERTY
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52317
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IA24
Departure City GREENCASTLE
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --