# NTSB CEN26LA242: Piper PA-25-235, N386AB, Forest Lake, MN, July 4, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 4, 2026, 09:42 local (14:42 UTC)
- Place: Forest Lake, MN
- Coordinates: 45.240278, -92.981111
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2403&lon=-92.9811&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA242
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA242

## Preliminary report

On July 4, 2026, about 0942 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N386AB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 banner tow flight. The pilot reported that he completed a normal preflight inspection and engine runup. After a successful banner hook, the airplane struggled to climb. The pilot increased the throttle and fuel mixture to full, but the airplane could not maintain level flight. The pilot jettisoned the banner, and the airplane continued to lose altitude. The pilot conducted a forced landing into trees resulting in substantial damage to both wings, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. According to FAA Special Airworthiness Bulletin CE-09-35, weather at the time of the accident was conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. The pilot reported that he did not turn on the carburetor heat when troubleshooting the loss of engine power.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N386AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N386AB), registered now, S/N 25-3790, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-3790
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 2997.8
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Banner tow, Part 91
- Operator: Plane And Simple Leasing LLC, doing business as Aerial Banners
- Registered owner: Plane And Simple Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 2026
- Departed: 25D, Forrest Lake, MN
- Airport: 25D
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KANE, 11 nm away
- METAR: METAR KANE 041345Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 22/19 A3003

## 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 20260704008979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260704008979A), Jul 4, 2026: Piper PA-25-235, Forest Lake, MN, Substantial damage. The pilot was performing banner towing operations. They had conducted a normal takeoff and banner hook deployment. After successful banner hook, the aircraft…

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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