Piper PA-32-260 accident near Pine Center, Minnesota, April 10, 1987
On April 10, 1987 at about 5:15 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N56721, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pine Center, Minnesota. It was a business 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
- April 10, 1987 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Pine Center, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N56721 · no longer on the register · serial 327400006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER NOTICING A LOSS IN OIL PRESSURE, THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SWAMP. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED MINOR INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL SUMP CONTAINED SEVERAL METAL PIECES, SHAVINGS OF BEARING MATERIAL, THE HEAD PORTION OF A CONNECTING ROD BOLT, AND A SECTION OF THE OIL PUMP COUPLING TO THE AFT CRANKSHAFT GEAR. ONE OF THE TEETH ON THE IMPELLER OF THE OIL PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE IMPELLER AND THE OIL PUMP HOUSING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 644 hours in all; 18 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1987; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STP Saint Paul MN
- Destination: PKD Park Rapids MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 am from AXN, 62 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.