Amateur-built EVANS VP-1 accident near Duquette, Minnesota, June 20, 1988
On June 20, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built EVANS VP-1, registered N17BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duquette, Minnesota (Private Strip airport). 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
- June 20, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Duquette, Minnesota · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EVANS VP-1
- Registration
- N17BL · no longer on the register · serial 1-3000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE INITIAL FLIGHT OF THIS AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE AFTER LIFTOFF TO ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO ACCELERATE. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM COLLIDING WITH TREES.
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: 491 hours in all; 410 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 111 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1600 CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 2IY Moose Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
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.