- Date
- July 27, 1989, 11:06 local (16:06 UTC)
- Place
- River Falls, WI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N25687Piper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 9, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890727025429A
- Case key
- 14389
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper remedial action by the pilot following an abrupt maneuver. The pilot's lack of total aviation experience was a factor in the accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The accident airplane collided with terrain while maneuvering. Witnesses to the accident all saw the airplane in a steep turning descent which continued until impact. At the time of the accident, the PIC had in his possession a private pilot certificate issued in 1948. A review of the pilot's logbook showed a total of 39.7 flight hours of aviation experience over 40 years. Approximately 22 of those flight hours were obtained when he resumed flying after a 39 year hiatus. A post-accident inspection showed no defects in the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N25687
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-81A0054
- Airframe hours
- 3,258
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mayer Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 21, 1989 · 58 hours before
- Departed
- 21D · Lake Elmo, MN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 60 total · 38 in this make and model · 24 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- STP, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N25687 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.