Amateur-built XTC2 accident near River Falls, Minnesota, May 4, 1983
On May 4, 1983 at about 2:40 pm local time, a amateur-built XTC2, registered N3885D, was substantially damaged in an accident near River Falls, Minnesota (Thief River Falls airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1983 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- River Falls, Minnesota · Thief River Falls · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built XTC2
- Registration
- N3885D · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT PULLED UP STEEPLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND STALLED. THE ACFT CRASHED BACK ON THE RWY. THE PILOT SAID HE REDUCED POWER AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE ACFT STALLED. HE ALSO SAID IF HE HAD NOT REDUCED POWER THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
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: 610 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kfm 107 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.