Piper PA-36-375 accident near Breckentidge, Minnesota, June 14, 1991
On June 14, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-375, registered N3866E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Breckentidge, Minnesota. 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 TAKE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION DURING THE ATTEMPTED CLIMB OUT. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE PREMATURE LIFT OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Breckentidge, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N3866E · no longer on the register · serial 36-7802043
- 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 STATED HE WAS TAKING OFF WITH A LOAD OF WATER TO FLUSH OUT HIS AERIAL APPLICATION EQUIPMENT. THE AIRPLANE ROTATED, BUT THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND, TOUCHING DOWN ABRUPTLY IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR LOSS OF POWER INVOLVED. HE STATED, 'I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND LONGER DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-720 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°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.