Piper PA-31-325 accident near Duluth, Minnesota, June 8, 2012
On June 8, 2012 at about 7:27 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-325, registered N174BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota. 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
Undetermined because the airplane was not found.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2012 · about 7:27 pm local time
- Place
- Duluth, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-325 · all PA-31-325s on the register
- Registration
- N174BH · registry record · serial 31-7612038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport-rated pilot departed in the twin-engine airplane for a maintenance flight to break in a new engine. The flight was expected to last about 4 hours. Radar track data indicated that the airplane departed the airport and proceeded north following the western shoreline of a lake. While following the shoreline, the airplane descended from about 2,800 to 1,600 ft, which was its last recorded position. When the airplane did not return on time, it was reported missing, and an extensive search was conducted. However, the airplane and pilot were not found.
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 NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,570 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGS South St Paul MN at 6:15 pm
- Destination: SGS South St Paul MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from DLH, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.