Amateur-built VOLKSPLANE VP-1 accident near Waconia, Minnesota, July 1, 2000
On July 1, 2000 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built VOLKSPLANE VP-1, registered N256DN, was destroyed in an accident near Waconia, Minnesota. 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 inadvertent stall by the pilot. The low attitude at the time of the stall was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2000 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waconia, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VOLKSPLANE VP-1 VOLKSPLANE
- Registration
- N256DN · no longer on the register · serial 19941999
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur built airplane impacted terrain during climbout from the departure runway. Witnesses reported hearing engine noise while the airplane was in the climb. A witness added that the airplane was in right wing low nose up attitude, which then quickly changed to a nose down vertical descent. Inspection of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 880 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1MN5
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 147°F (64°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from GYL, 20 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.