Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182Q near Mapleton, IA — 2025-10-29

Investigation ongoingANC26LA020
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Date
2025-10-29
Location
Mapleton, IA, USA
Airport
MEY
Aircraft
CESSNA 182Q
Registration
N735ZD
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On October 29, 2025, at about 1200 Central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N735ZD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mapleton, Iowa. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91personal flight. The pilot reported that during takeoff, just after liftoff, one propeller blade lost pitch control, and the airplane was unable to climb. He said that the stall warning horn continued to sound after liftoff, and a passenger described a loud buzzing sound starting before liftoff. The airplane subsequently impacted an area of rising terrain in a harvested bean field, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. After the accident, the pilot told his passengers that he needed to get the airplane back to the airport, and the passengers demanded to get out, exited the airplane and called 911. Without shutting down the engine, the pilot taxied the airplane down the hill and made an unsuccessful takeoff attempt on the flat open field. A post examination of the wreckage is pending.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail · Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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