1990-04-21: Piper PA-22-150 — Burri, Gregory D. — Eldora, IA

Casualties unknown • Eldora, IA, US

Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE AIRCRAFT'S LOW FUEL LEVEL, DARKNESS, THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG AIRPORT/RUNWAY, THE RUNWAY LIGHTS NOT OPERATING, AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS (TRANSMISSION LINES).

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

DURING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP, THE PILOT NOTED THE FUEL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW, SO HE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AN UNLIGHTED TURF AIRPORT. HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY USING THE ACFT'S TRANSMITTER, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE HAD SELECTED THE WRONG AIRPORT; SUBSEQUENTLY, HE WAS ALSO USING THE WRONG RADIO FREQUENCY FOR THAT AIRPORT. DURING FINAL APPROACH TO WHERE HE THOUGHT THE AIRPORT WAS LOCATED, THE ACFT STRUCK POWER LINES, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT AND TWO PSGRS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES; THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-04-21 Piper PA-22-150 accident near Eldora, IA?

DURING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP, THE PILOT NOTED THE FUEL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW, SO HE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AN UNLIGHTED TURF AIRPORT. HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY USING THE ACFT'S TRANSMITTER, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE HAD SELECTED THE WRONG AIRPORT; SUBSEQUENTLY, HE WAS ALSO USING…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-04-21 involved a Piper PA-22-150, registration N1680P, operated by Burri, Gregory D., at Eldora, IA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE AIRCRAFT'S LOW FUEL LEVEL, DARKNESS, THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG AIRPORT/RUNWAY, THE RUNWAY LIGHTS NOT OPERATING, AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS…

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X22996. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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