North American T-28B accident near Monticello, Iowa, August 11, 2025
On August 11, 2025 at about 8:05 pm local time, a 1958 North American T-28B, registered N28XT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2025 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-28B, built 1958 · all T-28Bs on the register
- Registration
- N28XT · registry record · serial 138339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 11, 2025, about 1505 Central daylight time, a North American T-28B airplane, N28XT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Monticello, Iowa. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the pilot reported, over the Monticello Regional Airport’s Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), that he was experiencing a propeller governor failure, and he was returning to the airport. Shortly thereafter, he reported a total loss of engine power, and that he was attempting an emergency landing in a bean field about 2 miles Southeast of the airport (See figure 1). Figure 1. Accident site location about 2 miles Southeast of the Monticello Regional Airport (Courtesy of Iowa State Troopers). During the subsequent emergency landing in the bean field, with the landing gear in the retracted position, the airplane continued along the wreckage path for about an additional 275 ft from the initial impact point. The main fuselage, and associated debris path was oriented on about a 217° heading. The debris path between the initial impact point and the main wreckage site displayed signs of extensive fuselage fragmentation. Debris consisting of an engine oil tank and oil cooler, a propeller blade, and the accident airplane’s Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 engine, were all found in the debris path. The airplane came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings (See figure 2). Figure 2. Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 engine separated from Airframe with main wreckage in the background (NTSB Photo). An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Alaska Regional Office, along with an NTSB aviation piston engine specialist, responded to the accident site and examined the airplane wreckage on August 12-14. During the detailed on-scene examination, the investigative team retained various components for additional examination and testing, and results are pending. The wreckage has been moved to a secure site and additional postaccident examinations are pending.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MXO Monticello IA
Weather at the time
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KMXO, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMXO 112015Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW026 FEW031 27/22 A2999 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC25FA086.