Newton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newton, Iowa 50208
Friday, March 5, 1993 19:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument rated private pilot and three passengers took off a on local flight. Fifteen minutes after takeoff, dense fog began to form throughout the area. The visibility was reported to be less than one-quarter mile. Witnesses heard what they believe was the airplane hitting a tree and striking the ground. The crash site was about one mile northwest of the airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FOG, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/5/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1910
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City NEWTON
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50208
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NEWTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TNU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 310
Airport Elevation 952
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1945 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID TNU
Elevation of weather observation facility 952
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1257
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 5 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1646J
NTSB Number CHI93FA103
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-24038
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Aug 16 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 1820
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAVERNE A. CUNNINGHAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1, BOX 54
Aircraft Owner City MONROE
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50208
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CUNNINGHAM, LAVERNE A.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RR 1, BOX 54
Operator City MONROE
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50170
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --