Piper PA-38-112 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 23, 1984
On October 23, 1984 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9844T, was destroyed in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Crystall airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 23, 1984 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Crystall · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9844T · no longer on the register · serial 3
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON INITIAL CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTED THE ENGINE COWLING WAS LOOSE AND VIBRATRING. PLT INITIATED A SHALLOW TURN BACK FOR LANDING BUT PREOCCUPATION WITH THE COWLING CAUSED HIM TO ALLOW THE ACFT TO ENTER A STEEP BANK. DURING THE PLT'S ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE BANK ANGLE, THE STALL WARNING HORN CAME ON. THE PLT'S RESPONSE WAS TO INCREASE BACK PRESSURE ON THE ELEVATOR CONTROL AND APPLY RIGHT RUDDER. THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND IN UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT.
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: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,943 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIC Minneapolis MN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: Litchfield MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23R, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am
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.