M-Squared Sport 1000 accident near Little Falls, Minnesota, May 5, 2020
On May 5, 2020 at about 5:35 pm local time, a 1997 M-Squared Sport 1000, registered N7013W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Little Falls, Minnesota (Little Falls/Morrison County-L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The uncertificated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2020 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Little Falls, Minnesota · Little Falls/Morrison County-L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- M-Squared Sport 1000, built 1997
- Registration
- N7013W · no longer on the register · serial 1003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The uncertificated pilot stated that he replaced the wing and control surface skins of the airplane and planned to perform a test flight. He said that shortly after adding power, the airplane "jumped up" 15 ft off the ground and drifted away from the runway centerline. The pilot applied corrective control inputs to return the airplane back to runway centerline and then applied full engine power to initiate a go-around. About 100 ft agl, the airplane banked hard to the left. The pilot applied right aileron control input but was unable to reduce the bank. The airplane descended and impacted the ground about 200 yards from the end of the runway. The pilot stated that there were no engine-related mechanical anomalies. The flight controls were subject to impact damage; however, the damage was consistent with failures associated with overload due to ground impact and not a failure in flight.
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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 6.5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXL Little Falls MN
- Destination: LXL Little Falls MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,010 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:26 pm from LXL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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 | Record of Conversation Between NTSB Iic and Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Converstation Between NTSB Duty Officer and Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Police Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Converstation Between FAA and Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Post-accident Airplane Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7013W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.