Fairchild M-62 accident near Madrid, IA
On August 13, 2011, a Fairchild M-62 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Madrid, IA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 13, 2011
- Place
- Madrid, IA
- Aircraft
- Fairchild M-62 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.825°N, 93.841°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110815X11710
Official records · CEN11LA569
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 13, 2011, about 1200 central daylight time, a 1943 Fairchild M-62 (PT-19A) airplane, N53956, was substantially damaged when it impacted power lines and terrain along the Des Moines River near Madrid, Iowa. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The World War II era military training airplane was registered to a private individual. It had been restored and was being operated by the Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The flight originated from Boone Municipal Airport (BNW), Boone, Iowa, about 1130. The intended destination was Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), Ankeny, Iowa. The pilot flew to BNW on the morning of the accident for a fly-in event. During the event, the pilot gave rides to several attendees. The airplane was reportedly refueled prior to departure. The pilot commented that he would be returning to IKV by following the Des Moines River. Witnesses boating on the river reported that they observed the airplane as it flew along the river. As the airplane passed their location, the wings banked apparently waving at them. The airplane was 50 to 100 feet above the river; low enough for the witnesses to notice that the airplane occupants were two men. There was no sign of distress related to the airplane. A witness who was fishing along the shoreline of the river reported that the airplane approached his location from the north. He estimated that the airplane wa
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to conduct low-level flight along a river, which resulted in a collision with power lines.
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Browse: Iowa · Fairchild aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
