North American T-28A accident near Moorhead, Minnesota, July 2, 2017
On July 2, 2017 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1951 North American T-28A, registered N9103F, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Moorhead, Minnesota (Moorhead Municipal airport). 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
Controlled descent into terrain due to engine issues, the reason for which could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no evidence of malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2017 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Moorhead, Minnesota · Moorhead Municipal · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-28A, built 1951 · all T-28As on the register
- Registration
- N9103F · no longer on the register · serial 51-7606
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot took off in the airplane for a cross-country personal flight. Shortly after reaching 1,800 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot contacted the departure controller and said he was diverting to another nearby airport. He did not provide a reason for the diversion nor did he declare an emergency, and when asked if he needed assistance, he replied "no." Subsequently, the controller told the pilot that a frequency change was approved and that radar services were terminated; however, no further communications were received from the pilot. Radar data showed the airplane in a controlled descent on a southerly heading toward the diversion airport. The descent distance from 1,800 ft msl to the point of impact was 7.5 miles, for an average descent rate of 120 ft per mile. One witness reported that he saw the airplane fly over him and that it was "obviously in distress" and making a "terrible racket." One witness said the engine was "popping," and another witness reported that the airplane "sounded like it was in trouble." One witness reported seeing the airplane's right wing clip a light pole. The airplane then impacted a cornfield 1/2 mile from the airport. Examination and disassembly of the engine revealed damage to the propeller case and gear case that was consistent with the engine running at impact, which corroborated the witnesses' reports, and no evidence of malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Oil specimens were within normal ranges. The reason for the abnormal engine sounds reported by the witnesses could not be determined.
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
- Course deviation during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 792 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,501 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFAR Fargo ND at 10:50 pm
- Destination: 47Y Pelican Rapids MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:14 pm from Kkjk
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Light pole clipped by N9103F’s right wing.
Photo 2 – The light fixture at the base of the pole.
Photo 3 – N9103F in the corn field with Clay County sheriff’s deputies.
Photo 4 – Right from view of N9103F.
Photo 5 – Left side view of N9103F.
Photo 6 – The right wing.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 3, 2017. 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 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Witness' Statement | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Record of FAA Telephone Conversation | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | radar Data Plotted on Google Earth | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Avlab Oil Sample Analysis Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Report Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9103F: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- North American T-28 206 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Wright R-1820 SER 185 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Moorhead Muni/Florence Klingensmith Field · nearest airport
- Hector International · departed from
- Pelican Rapids Muni-Lyon'S Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Minnesota 1,544 since 1982 · 209 in the last ten years
- Minnesota 6,953 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN17LA250.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.