Piper PA-32-300 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 4, 2005
On July 4, 2005 at about 4:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered CGGJB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind and the taxiway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2005 · about 4:36 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- CGGJB · no longer on the register · serial 32-7640006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a taxiway sign while landing on runway 28L. The pilot stated that as he approached the airport, he received the automated terminal information service (ATIS) and the winds were reported as being from 250 degrees at 5 knots. He stated the approach was normal, but as he approached the threshold he had difficulty correcting for the crosswind and the airplane drifted to the right edge of the runway. The pilot stated the airplane touched down and continued to the right. He stated the airplane "ballooned slightly" and the nose gear impacted a taxiway sign. The pilot stated the nose gear collapsed and they came to rest in the grass between runways 28L and 28R. The wind conditions reported at 1153 were from 240 degrees at 10 knots.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Minneapolis MN at 3:36 pm
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:59 am from FCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.