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Accidents · NTSB CHI91DER06 · Final report

Piper PA-36-285 accident near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, June 17, 1991

On June 17, 1991 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-36-285, registered N57824, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fergus Falls, Minnesota (Fergus Falls Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES DURING AERIAL APLLICATION OPERATIONS.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 17, 1991 · about 1:30 am local time · cases in 1991
Place
Fergus Falls, Minnesota · Fergus Falls Municipal · cases near this airport
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-36-285 · all PA-36-285s on the register
Registration
N57824 · registry record · serial 36-7660132
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)

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

THE PILOT WAS INVOLVED IN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF POWERLINES. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE PULLED UP TO CLIMB OUT AFTER A SPRAY RUN, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT CLEAR THE TWO BOTTOM WIRES. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITH OUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 2,215 hours in all; 834 in this make and model; 2,084 as pilot in command; 228 on instruments
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: ctr

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,651 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1991; 119 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Teledyne Cont 6-285-C2 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 13, 5,640 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: dusk
  • Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91DER06.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.