Piper PA-25 accident near Henning, Minnesota, April 10, 1987
On April 10, 1987 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N6384Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henning, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Henning, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N6384Z · registry record · serial 25-506
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER EXPERIENCING A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT REPORTED MINOR INJURIES. THIS WAS THIS PILOT'S FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE POWER LOSS WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH HE HAD EXPERIENCED BEFORE IN OTHER TYPES OF AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A CARBURETOR HEAT SWITCH, HOWEVER, THE PILOT COULD NOT LOCATE IT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED WHILE HE WAS IN A TURN PREPARING TO LAND AT LOW ALTITUDE.
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: 1,474 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1,325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,597 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1983; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7Y5 Battle Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from AXN, 28 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.