# NTSB CEN26LA211: Piper PA-28-235, N15291, Montevideo, MN, June 1, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2026, 19:35 local (Jun 1, 2026, 00:35 UTC)
- Place: Montevideo, MN
- Coordinates: 44.974527, -95.717306
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9745&lon=-95.7173&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 17, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA211
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203095/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203095
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA211

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power on approach due to carburetor icing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while on final approach to the runway, the engine rpm began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful and prepared for a forced landing. The airplane touched down at the edge of a corn field and came to rest upright against a grass embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Following the accident, the pilot stated that the loss of engine power was likely the result of carburetor icing. According to the airplane handbook, during approach and landing, carburetor heat should be off unless icing conditions exist. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide engine power settings.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15291](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15291), registered now, S/N 28-7310031, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7310031
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 1617
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2026
- Airport: MVE, Montevideo-Chippewa County, runway 14/32, 3,999 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 8, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 453 total, 48 in this make and model, 327 as pilot in command, 5.9 in the last 90 days, 1.6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KMVE
- METAR: METAR KMVE 010035Z AUTO 14012KT 10SM SCT110 18/16 A2995 RMK AO2

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203095. 5.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20848506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20849191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN26LA211-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20848304&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA211%20-%20Pilot%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- POH excerpt (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20848773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Carburetor icing probability graph (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20849985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Graph%20CEN26LA211-Rel.pdf

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.