- Date
- October 8, 1989, 19:10 local (Oct 9, 1989, 00:10 UTC)
- Place
- Delavan, MN
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6340RPiper PA-28
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891008039189A
- Case key
- 34871
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain proper altitude during a low pass, and to see-and-avoid obstructions (inadequate visual lookout). Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's ostentatious display and the obstructions (powerlines).
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
Moments before it crashed, the acft was observed in a low pass that was below treetop level. A pull-up was initiated, but the acft hit a powerline at about 24 to 30 ft AGL. The powerline stretched, then failed & the acft crashed in a field, 733 ft from the initial impact point. No preimpact mechanical problem was evident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6340R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-21509
- Airframe hours
- 3
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary D. Berndt
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1989 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- Mapleton, 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
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FRM
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 N6340R · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.