Piper Aircraft INC PA-44-180 accident near Saint James, Minnesota, May 10, 2025
On May 10, 2025 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 2024 Piper Aircraft INC PA-44-180, registered N453MK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Saint James, Minnesota (St. James Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the left main landing gear tire casing and tube due to excessive wear which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2025 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Saint James, Minnesota · St. James Municipal · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft INC PA-44-180, built 2024
- Registration
- N453MK · registry record · serial 4496579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and pilot-receiving-instruction reported that upon landing, the airplane immediately veered left followed by a noticeable vibration. The flight instructor attempted to correct with opposite rudder, however, the left veer continued, and the airplane struck a runway edge light which collapsed the left main landing gear. The airplane departed the runway surface and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination found that the left tire had excessive wear and a flat spot in the casing with a corresponding 2” hole. Additionally, ground scars observed prior to the runway edge light showed that the tire casing had separated from the tire rim. It is likely the tire was in a near flat condition during the landing which resulted in the loss of directional control.
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 on ground during landing
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Fatigue/wear/corrosion other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tube › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 717 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command; 422 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 21, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 210 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 643 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 5, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 (piston); 667 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 667 hours total
- Operator: North Star Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,999 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KJYG
Weather report (METAR): KJYG 101635Z AUTO VRB05G10KT 10SM CLR 22/03 A3028 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane Overview
Photograph 2 – Worn Left Tire with Flat Spot
Photograph 3 – Left Wing DamageThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2025. 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 - Instructor | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot Receiving Instruction | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Examination Summary (8020-23 Copy) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N453MK on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 181 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming LIO-360-B1G6 6 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- St. James Municipal · nearest airport
- 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/CEN25LA174.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.