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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1991 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Fergus Falls, Minnesota · Fergus Falls Municipal
- 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
| 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.