Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Algona Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Algona, Iowa 50511
Sunday, September 29, 2013 20:50 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
On September 29, 2013, at 2050 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N31688, experienced a hard landing short of the runway at the Algona Municipal Airport (AXA), Algona, Iowa, following a loss of engine power. The private pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was registered to Okoboji Flyers LLC, and operated by the private pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Night visual meteorological prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The accident leg of the flight originated from the Estherville Municipal Airport (EST), Estherville, Iowa, at 1800.
The pilot departed Spencer, Iowa, and flew to EST where he picked up his flight instructor. The pilot stated the purpose of the flight was to complete a flight review. He reported the airplane contained 34 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff and during the flight he switched fuel tanks every 30 minutes. After departing EST, they flew south then east for about 1 hour. Based on the distance from EST and the amount of fuel remaining, the pilot elected to fly to a closer airport, AXA, to obtain fuel prior to returning to EST.
About 38 miles northeast of AXA, the pilot listened to the automated weather observation system (AWOS) for the airport. He stated there were no notices to airmen (NOTAMs) on the AWOS. They continued to AXA and the engine began to sputter when they were approximately 1 mile from the airport. The pilot switched fuel tanks and the engine regained power. He stated they circled the airport 3 times as they tried to turn on the runway lights. On the fourth pass, the engine lost power. The pilot made a hard landing short of the approach end of runway 12. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no useable fuel remained in the fuel tanks.
The airport manager stated the airport was closed between September 16, 2013 and October 9, 2013, due to runway construction. He stated they issued a NOTAM, crossed out the runway numbers, shut the airport beacon light off, and deactivated the pilot controlled runway lights. The airport manager stated they put the runway closure information on the AWOS, but it kept dropping off.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Not Yet Reported
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 9/29/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 2050 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Algona |
| Event State | IOWA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 50511 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 9 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 430431N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0941605W |
| Event Location Airport | Algona Municipal |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | KAXA |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 0 |
| Airport Elevation | 1219 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 2055 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | AXA |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1219 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Night |
| 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) | -- |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 17 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 7 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 170 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 12 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.87 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 2 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | -- |
| NTSB Notification Source | Pilot |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 3 2014 4:29PM |
| User who most recently changed record | sulp |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N31688 |
| NTSB Number | CEN13LA570 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| 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 28-181 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | 181 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 28-7890475 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2425 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 4 |
| 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 | Oct 26 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 1670 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | OKOBOJI FLYERS LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | OKOBOJI |
| Aircraft Owner State | IA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 513550852 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | Timothy Dawson |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Spirit Lake |
| Operator State | IA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 51360 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| 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) | Instructional |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | KEST |
| Departure City | Estherville |
| Departure State | IA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1800 |
| Departure Time Zone | CST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | KEST |
| Destination City | Estherville |
| Destination State | IA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 3 2014 4:29PM |
| User who most recently changed record | sulp |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |