# NTSB CEN26FA325: EXP PA-18 Replica, N43LK, Buffalo, MN, September 27, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: September 27, 2026, 16:08 local (21:08 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, MN · On Airport
- Coordinates: 45.157356, -93.844114
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1574&lon=-93.8441&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - MSP FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203880
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26FA325
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203880/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA325

## Preliminary report

On September 27, 2026, about 1608 central daylight time, an experimental PA-18 Replica airplane, N43LK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Buffalo, Minnesota. The pilot was fatally injured, and the pilot-rated passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported that the airplane took off from runway 18 and appeared to be climbing at a steep angle. He described the engine sound as “loud.” Shortly afterward, the airplane rolled off and entered a steep descent before impacting the ground. Figure 1 – Airplane at accident site. Initial ground impressions were consistent with a nose-down impact at the north edge of taxiway A1. The airplane came to rest at the taxiway A1 hold short line which was about 27 ft southwest from the initial impact and oriented on a southeast heading. The wings were dislocated and resting in position relative to the fuselage. Both wings exhibited leading edge crushing damage along the entire span. The engine was displaced upward relative to the fuselage, and the cockpit area was compromised. The aft fuselage was oriented upward with the empennage intact. The flight control surfaces remained attached to the airframe. The control cables were secured to the respective control surfaces. They were continuous to the wing roots, for the ailerons and flaps, and to the cockpit area for the elevators and rudder. Flight control cable separations were retained for further examination. FAA records revealed that the airplane was issued an experimental special airworthiness certificate on June 25, 2026. The records listed no flight time (0.0 hours) for the airplane as a newly constructed aircraft when the certificate was issued. Current flight time for the airplane was not available at the time of accident. FAA records also revealed that the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on August 12, 2026. At that time, he had logged 75.8 hours total flight time with 17.2 hours of pilot-in-command and 5.2 hours of tailwheel airplane flight time. His logbook contained a tailwheel airplane endorsement. No flight time was logged subsequent to the issuance of his private pilot certificate.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mikael Rovala PA-18 REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05642Q3), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43LK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43LK), registered now, S/N KWT-01 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EXP PA-18 Replica
- Registry model: [Mikael Rovala PA-18 REPLICA](https://openairdocs.org/model/mikael-rovala-pa-18-replica) (registry code 05642Q3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: KWT-01
- Year built: 2026
- Airframe hours: 0
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 25, 2026
- Departed: CFE, Buffalo, MN
- Destination: Unknown
- Airport: CFE, Buffalo Municipal, runway 18, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KCFE
- METAR: METAR KCFE 272122Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC028 20/17 A3010

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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