Piper PA22 accident near White Bear Township, Minnesota, October 27, 2019
On October 27, 2019 at about 3:55 pm local time, a 1955 Piper PA22, registered N2621P, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near White Bear Township, Minnesota (Benson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank before departure, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2019 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- White Bear Township, Minnesota · Benson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 150, built 1955 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N2621P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2957
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that his preflight inspection revealed 18 gallons of fuel in the left tank and "no fuel in the right tank." After an engine run-up, he initiated a takeoff; he reported that he did not recall any further events of the flight. The airplane subsequently impacted a tree and terrain about 1/4 mile from the runway and came to rest near a ditch. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, and the fuel selector valve was in the right tank position. The gascolator was intact and contained no fuel. It is likely that the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,957 hours in all; 315 in this make and model; 7,409 as pilot in command; 594 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 2, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,677.6 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, April 16, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 1,987 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6MN9 White Bear Township MN at 3:55 pm
- Destination: 6MN9 White Bear Township MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from KANE, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on February 3, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120 1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- G Mcdaniel, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements - P Pedersen | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement - Communication Summary -- E Martin, Msp Fsdo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos - Supplied Photos | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Miscellaneous Information - POH Excerpt | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Weather Reports and Records - Local METAR Ane | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Miscellaneous Information - Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120 15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.