Sheldon Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheldon, Iowa 51201
Saturday, September 1, 2001 18:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane experienced a rough running engine 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 33 (4,199 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at an altitude of 1,581 feet above the airport. The pilot reported being too high and fast while landing on runway 33 with 20 degrees of flaps, so he executed a go around which was then followed by a total loss of engine power. The airplane landed in a dry corn field and came to rest inverted. The private pilot had a total flight time of 119 hours. The Flight Training Handbook cites techniques for performing an emergency landing and also states that the eagerness to get down is one of the most common faults of inexperienced pilots during simulated forced landings resulting in excessive speed to permit a safe landing. Examination of the engine revealed an ingested exhaust valve from the number two cylinder.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the in-flight planning/decision and proper touchdown point not attained by the pilot. Contributing factors were the ingested exhaust valve and lack of experience of the pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1825
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sheldon
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51201
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Sheldon Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SHL
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 315
Airport Elevation 1419
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1825 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID SHL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1419
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11313
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2002 7:13AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Des Moines FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5593E
NTSB Number CHI01LA303
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17271895
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 24 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55.9
Airframe Hours 6879.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Midwest Flying Service Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3040B Highway 60 Blvd
Aircraft Owner City Sheldon
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51201
Operator is an individual? No
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 UQMA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DSM
Departure City Des Moines
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1705
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SHL
Destination City Sheldon
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 31 2001 10:45AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 4199
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --