Piper PA-23 accident near Rochester, Minnesota, June 17, 2010
On June 17, 2010 at about 4:52 am local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N7SE, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Rochester, Minnesota (Rochester International Airpor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power and the pilot's subsequent loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2010 · about 4:52 am local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Rochester, Minnesota · Rochester International Airpor · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N7SE · registry record · serial 23-1127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night flight, the pilot reported a loss of engine power to air traffic controllers and requested assistance locating the nearest airport. About 18 nautical miles from the airport, the pilot stated to the controllers that the twin engine airplane's left engine had lost power and that he was attempting to maintain altitude. Later, the pilot stated that he was unsure if he would be able to make the airport. The airplane impacted trees and terrain about a mile from the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane disclosed no anomalies that would explain the loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 259 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 3, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming 0-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Minneapolis MN at 4:15 am
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 am from RST, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on May 2, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accident Scene Photographs (6 Embedded Photographs) | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Toxicological Report - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Toxicological Report - Passengers | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Summary of Radio Communications | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Record of Conversation - Stewart Sampath | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Record of Conversation - Bernard Serafinowicz | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Plotted radar Data | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7SE on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec 1,315 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-A1A 21 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rochester International · nearest airport
- Flying Cloud Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Minnesota 1,544 since 1982 · 209 in the last ten years
- Minnesota 6,958 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN10FA322.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.