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Accidents · NTSB CHI87DER12 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Taylorcraft F21A accident near Int'L Falls, Minnesota, July 10, 1987

On July 10, 1987 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Taylorcraft F21A, registered N2006L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Int'L Falls, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
July 10, 1987 · about 6:20 pm local time
Place
Int'L Falls, Minnesota · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Taylorcraft F21A · all F21As on the register
Registration
N2006L · registry record · serial F-1500
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFTS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OVER HIGH TERRAIN AND TREES. WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS TO THE PILOT THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB OVER THESE OBSTACLES, HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN AWAY FROM LARGE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ONE TREE AND THE GROUND.

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; single-engine sea
  • Flight time: 1,680 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1987; 54 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-62C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 050° at 12 knots
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 5:50 pm from INL, 80 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.