Piper PA-28-181 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 28, 2023
On November 28, 2023 at about 4:31 pm local time, a 1980 Piper PA-28-181, registered N8274H, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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
Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation that was the result of a leaking fuel drain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 2023 · about 4:31 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1980 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8274H · registry record · serial 28-8190052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane’s engine momentarily lost power while approaching to land near the conclusion of about a 3.5-hour flight. The pilot advanced the throttle control and engine power was restored for about 30 seconds to one minute before all engine power was again lost. The pilot reported that the airplane was operating on the right fuel tank when the power loss occurred and that all attempts to restore power were unsuccessful, including switching to the left fuel tank. The airplane struck a car during the ensuing forced landing to a road, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination shortly after the accident revealed that the left fuel tank drain was leaking an undetermined amount of fuel, and the left fuel tank did not contain a usable amount of fuel. The fuel tank was not compromised. The right fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of usable fuel. Examination of the fuel tank drain revealed that the o-ring seal was deformed and gouged. Subsequent examination revealed no other anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. Based on the available information, although the pilot believed he was operating on the right fuel tank, he was likely operating on the left fuel tank, which had leaked an undetermined amount of fuel. The leakage from the tank drain resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power. Due to the low altitude when the power loss occurred, the pilot was unable to restore fuel flow to the engine before the forced landing.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 240 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 136 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 2, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,849 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 15, 2023; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 11,640 hours total
- Operator: Thunderbird Aircraft CO
The flight
- Departed from: MIC Crystal MN at 1:05 pm
- Destination: MIC Crystal MN
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KMIC
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMIC 281653Z 19009KT 10SM CLR M07/M14 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP225 T10721144=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 30, 2024. 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 | Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Answers to Subsequent Questions | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photos | PDF, 4 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.