Piper PA-28-140 accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, March 3, 1990
On March 3, 1990 at about 1:50 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N3967K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brainerd, Minnesota (Brainerd 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1990 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Brainerd, Minnesota · Brainerd · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3967K · registry record · serial 28-23851
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR (VASI) DURING A NIGHT LANDING ATTEMPT TO AN UNLIGHTED RUNWAY AT THE COMPLETION OF A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT STATED ON HIS ACCIDENT REPORT FORM THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS TWICE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. DURING HIS FINAL APPROACH TO THE LANDING RUNWAY HE STATES THAT WIND WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS 'SEVERE WIND SHEAR' DISPLACED HIM TO THE POINT THAT HE HAD TO LAND ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE VASI SUPPORT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE AIRPORT LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS CONDUCTED BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THIS TEST SHOWED THE LIGHTS TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY.
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: 60 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-A24 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y19 Mandan ND at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,082 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.