# NTSB ANC25FA086: North American T-28B, N28XT, Monticello, IA, August 11, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: August 11, 2025, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: Monticello, IA
- Coordinates: 42.236967, -91.182924
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2370&lon=-91.1829&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200763
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25FA086
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200763/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25FA086

## Preliminary report

On August 11, 2025, about 1505 Central daylight time, a North American T-28B airplane, N28XT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Monticello, Iowa. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the pilot reported, over the Monticello Regional Airport’s Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), that he was experiencing a propeller governor failure, and he was returning to the airport. Shortly thereafter, he reported a total loss of engine power, and that he was attempting an emergency landing in a bean field about 2 miles Southeast of the airport (See figure 1). Figure 1. Accident site location about 2 miles Southeast of the Monticello Regional Airport (Courtesy of Iowa State Troopers). During the subsequent emergency landing in the bean field, with the landing gear in the retracted position, the airplane continued along the wreckage path for about an additional 275 ft from the initial impact point. The main fuselage, and associated debris path was oriented on about a 217° heading. The debris path between the initial impact point and the main wreckage site displayed signs of extensive fuselage fragmentation. Debris consisting of an engine oil tank and oil cooler, a propeller blade, and the accident airplane’s Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 engine, were all found in the debris path. The airplane came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings (See figure 2). Figure 2. Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 engine separated from Airframe with main wreckage in the background (NTSB Photo). An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Alaska Regional Office, along with an NTSB aviation piston engine specialist, responded to the accident site and examined the airplane wreckage on August 12-14. During the detailed on-scene examination, the investigative team retained various components for additional examination and testing, and results are pending. The wreckage has been moved to a secure site and additional postaccident examinations are pending.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [North American T-28B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=6402506), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28XT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28XT), registered now, S/N 138339, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-28B
- Registry model: [North American T-28B](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28b) (registry code 6402506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 138339
- Year built: 1958
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: East Iowa Air Inc
- Departed: MXO, Monticello, IA

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KMXO, 1 nm away
- METAR: KMXO 112015Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW026 FEW031 27/22 A2999 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250811012569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250811012569A), Aug 11, 2025: North American T-28B, Monitcello, IA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Pilot reported propeller governor failure followed by engine failure resulted in unsuccessful landing in bean field.

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.

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