Piper J-3 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 22, 1988
On July 22, 1988 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N25WF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis-Crystal airport). It was an instructional 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
- July 22, 1988 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Minneapolis-Crystal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N25WF · registry record · serial 5671
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING A LANDING ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRIKE THE VASI LIGHTS. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ONLY FLOWN 2 HOURS, INCLUDING 10 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, IN THE PAST 90 DAYS, AND STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE SHIFTING AROUND WHILE HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.
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: student
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 1987; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wally'S Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13L, 3,267 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from MIC
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.
Other NTSB records under N25WF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.