Piper PA18 accident near Brandon, Minnesota, August 15, 2020
On August 15, 2020 at about 6:07 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA18, registered N2510H, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Brandon, Minnesota (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2020 · about 6:07 pm local time
- Place
- Brandon, Minnesota · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18 150, built 1979 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- N2510H · registry record · serial 18-7909197
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed to the south, taxied to the end of the runway, and took off to the north from his private grass airstrip. During the takeoff, the engine lost then regained power shortly after the airplane became airborne. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff due to the remaining runway available. While maneuvering toward an open field and away from obstacles, the airplane struck a 4-foot-high steel fence post. The airplane spun, traveled about 150 feet and came to rest. A postimpact fire ensued as both occupants exited with minor injuries. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all flight control surfaces. Due to the severe postimpact fire, engine drive continuity could not be confirmed, but engine control continuity was confirmed. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. Since the pilot had taxied at a low power setting prior to taking off and reported that the airplane lost then regained engine power, the momentary loss of engine power was most likely due to carburetor icing.
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 (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 19, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Brandon MN at 6:05 pm
- Destination: Brandon MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from AXN, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2022. 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 | Memorradum for the Record Pilot Statement Summary CEN20LA343 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Summary of Reported Findings CEN20LA343 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Carburetor Icing Probability CEN20LA343 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Douglas County Sherrif Report CEN20LA343 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array CEN20LA343 | 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.
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.