Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iola, Wisconsin 54945
Saturday, July 13, 1985 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

UPON TAKEOFF AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FT AGL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS WHICH NECESSITATED A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT, WET POTATO FIELD. THE PILOT HAD TIME TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND MAGNETOS PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE POWER LOSS REMAINED CONSTANT. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PRE- TAKEOFF ENGINE RUN-UP AND MAGNETO CHECK WAS NORMAL. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT 5 OF THE 8 SPARK PLUGS WERE LEAD FOWLED. THREE WERE COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT AND TWO SPARKED INTERMITTENTLY. TWO OF THE MALFUNCTIONING PLUGS WERE ON THE SAME CYLINDER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City IOLA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54945
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
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 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1334
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2033
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28693
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1487A
NTSB Number CHI85LA297
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-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22396
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Apr 1 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2969
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHELDON D. STEVENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3923 ROLLING HILLS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ARDEN HILLS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55112
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 68C
Departure City IOLA
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1827
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ANE
Destination City ANOKA
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --