Piper PA-23 accident near Dodge Center, Minnesota, July 22, 2000
On July 22, 2000 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N1069P, was destroyed in an accident near Dodge Center, Minnesota (Dodge Center Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining airplane control in his turn back in the direction of the airport and the pilot not performing an emergency landing straight ahead. Factors were the water and debris contamination found in the fuel screens and carburetor bowl and the stall the pilot encountered during his turn in the direction of the airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2000 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Dodge Center, Minnesota · Dodge Center Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N1069P · no longer on the register · serial 23-80
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed during impact with terrain and post accident fire during a maneuver to return to the airport after loss of power on takeoff. The pilot was fatally injured. The annual inspection was completed on July 21, 2000. A witness stated that the airplane was just above power lines, that the airplane made a turn to the east, and that the airplane was even lower when it made a turn back to the north. She stated that the airplane impacted the ground with its left wing and then impacted the ground with its nose. She said that the airplane spun around and burst into flames when it hit the ground. She stated that the engine was sputtering. At 1440 she called 911. A fuel pump log indicated the plane was last fueled at 1429. Continuity to all control surfaces and to both engines was established. A thumb compression was found at all cylinders. All magnetos except the right engine's left magneto produced spark when rotated. A liquid was found in the left engines carburetor bowl and "analysis of item 1 revealed the presence of water and a flammable liquid consistent with aviation fluid." Mineral matter, plant matter, fibers, glass like particles, metallic particles, and unidentified particles were found in that fluid. Both carburetor inlet screens contained a media and the NTSB Materials Laboratory report on the screens stated, "Examination of the cylindrical screen revealed the sides were partially blocked with debris and the round end was totally blocked. Approximately 60% of the [right] screen mesh was blocked with debris. ... Approximately 30% of the [left] screen mesh was blocked." Both propellers' witness marks indicated low blade angle and no anomalies were found. The left governor was tested and had no anomalies found. The right governor was not tested. Review of aerial photographs show suitable fields for emergency landings around the airport.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,286 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TOB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 131°F (55°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from RST, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.