Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lakeville, Minnesota, September 18, 2008
On September 18, 2008 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4349K, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Lakeville, Minnesota (Airlake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's lack of clearance from the approach lights and the distraction of those bright approach lights during his night approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2008 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Lakeville, Minnesota · Airlake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4349K · no longer on the register · serial 28-8416067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was going to perform two night landings at the accident airport before departing to his destination. He said that he was too high on final and reduced the power to idle and descended. The approach lights were on and the pilot reported that they were bright. He said that he was pressing the push to talk switch while looking at the lights and heard a loud bang. He stated that the airplane porpoised and he then regained control and landed. The approach lights were damaged and the airplane sustained substantial damage. His safety recommendation said, "I should have aborted landing when I saw I was too high – went around, adjusted light brightness in the pattern and then landed."
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Bright light › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 256 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,244 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVN Lakeville MN at 2:00 am
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N4349K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.