Piper PA-28-181 accident near Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, April 14, 1986
On April 14, 1986 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N84277, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. 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 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
- April 14, 1986 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Brooklyn Center, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N84277 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8190300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON AN AIRPORT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS NOT ABLE TO LAND IN THE LANE HE HAD ORIGINALLY CHOSEN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS INTENTIONALLY LANDED IN AN ALTERNATE LANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, HOWEVER THE DRIVER OF THE AUTOMOBILE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.
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: 147 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Minneapolis MN at 8:50 pm
- Destination: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from MSP, 12 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.