# Accident 20260628007279A: Piper PA-24-250, Hazen, ND, June 28, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 28, 2026, 13:15 local time
- Place: Hazen, ND
- Airport: Mercer County Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.2899° N, 101.5810° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2899&lon=-101.5810&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6852P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6852P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,223 total, 767 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26FA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA252) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260628007279A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MERCER REGIONAL AIRPORT (KHZE) IN HAZEN, ND AT ABOUT 13:17 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME ON RUNWAY 15. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF AND RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR WHILE AT ABOUT THE MIDPOINT OF THE RUNWAY.

MOMENTS LATER, THE WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT LEVEL “AT ABOUT 200 FEET” AND THE LANDING GEAR EXTEND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A LEFT BANKING TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP DIVE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PIC WAS FATALLY INJURED.

A VIDEO WAS TAKEN OF THE PIC FUELING THE AIRCRAFT.  THE VIDEO REVEALED THE PIC DID NOT INSTALL THE LEFT FUEL CAP.  IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PIC NOTICED THE FUEL ESCAPING FROM THE LEFT WING DURING CLIMB AND INITIATED A HARD LEFT TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT.  THE 180 DEGREE TURN WOULD HAVE CAUSED A DIRECT TAIL WIND AND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26FA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA252), Jun 28, 2026: Piper PA24 (N6852P), Hazen, ND, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N6852P (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20200907014449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200907014449I), Sep 7, 2020: Piper PA-24-250 (N6852P), Minot, ND, Minor damage. Pilot stated that he was out of his usual routine and selected the gear handle down to late on approach. The gear was in transit at touchdown which helped…
- [Incident 20070409007189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070409007189I), Apr 9, 2007: Piper PA24250 (N6852P), Santa Rosa, CA, Minor damage. (-23) At 5:15 am, pilot performed the preflight of the aircraft and pulled aircraft out of hangar with a passenger's help. After engine start the pilot notied…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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