# NTSB CHI94LA060: Piper PA-28-160, N5894W, Little Falls, MN, December 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 1993, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Little Falls, MN - Coordinates: 45.969024, -94.360504 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9690&lon=-94.3605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA060 ## Probable cause an improper preflight by the pilot-in-command and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn. A factor associated with the accident was contaminated fuel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD BEEN KEPT IN A HEATED HANGAR DUE TO THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANK SUMPS WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE HANGAR. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE HANGAR THE PILOT TAXIED OUT FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT REPORTED, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE STATED HE PERFORMED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT TO LAND ON A CROSS RUNWAY. WHILE IN THE TURN THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION FOUND ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL SAMPLE REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT WING'S FUEL TANK. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 1993, at 1130 central standard time (CST), a Piper PA-28-160, N5894W, registered to Michael J. Lyter of Little Falls, Minnesota, and piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged during a collision with the ground while maneuvering for a forced landing following a reported engine failure. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported serious injuries, the student pilot rated passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Little Falls, Minnesota, at 1125 CST. The pilot and passenger stated the engine operated normally during takeoff and initial climb from Runway 30 (4,000' X 75' asphalt) at the Little Falls-Morrison County Airport, Little Falls, Minnesota. According to the pilot, the engine stopped running when the airplane was approximately 200 feet above the ground. As the pilot was turning the airplane to the left, with the intention of landing on a cross runway, it stalled and struck the ground in a pitch down attitude with its left wing low. Prior to the accident flight, N5894W had been hangared in a heated hangar due to below zero weather conditions. The pilot said he had drained fuel from N5894W's fuel tanks while it was in the hangar. According to the pilot, water was not found during the fuel check process. Shortly after removal from the hangar, N5894W was started and taxied for departure. The student pilot's written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2 stated that he and the other pilot had intended to perform two touch and go's. An on-scene investigation was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector (POI). According to the POI's pilot interviews it was determined that the student pilot was in the left seat. His investigation revealed the airplane had been fueled with auto gas. Ice crystals were found in the fuel sample removed from the right wing fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5894W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5894W-1994-05-02), registration cancelled 1994-05-02, S/N 282674 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2674 - Airframe hours: 2835 - Engines: Lycoming 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael J. Lyter - Registered owner: Michael J. Lyter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: LXL, Little Falls ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -11 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LXL, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931227047289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931227047289A), Dec 27, 1993: Piper PA28160, Little Falls, MN, Destroyed. Engine quit on takeoff. Turned back. Stalled struck ground. In heated hangar all night. Had ice crystals in fuel. ## Other investigations on N5894W (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI67D0610](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0610), Apr 8, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N5894W), West Liberty, KY, substantial damage 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.