North American AT-6D accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota, May 3, 1988
On May 3, 1988 at about 5:23 pm local time, a North American AT-6D, registered N29935, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota (Flying Cloud airport). It was an instructional 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
- May 3, 1988 · about 5:23 pm local time
- Place
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota · Flying Cloud · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N29935 · no longer on the register · serial 49-3085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON AN AIRCRAFT FAMILIARIZATION FOR PURPOSE OF CHECK OUT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A GUSTY CROSSWIND ON LANDING AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ADDED POWER, BUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK A CONCRETE CULVERT, SWINGING THE AIRCRAFT AROUND TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ACROSS THE EMBANKMENT, STRIKING THE PROPELLER ON THE GROUND, SHEARING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OFF, AND COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,500 hours in all; 585 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 24,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 888 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1987; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W 1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y29 Glencoe MN at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 150 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:23 pm from FCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.