Amateur-built B D4 accident near Albert Lea, Minnesota, July 5, 1991
On July 5, 1991 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built B D4, registered N363H, was destroyed in an accident near Albert Lea, Minnesota (Jensen Air Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO TAKE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE TALL GRASS RUNWAY CONDITIONS, AND THE INADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1991 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albert Lea, Minnesota · Jensen Air Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B D4
- Registration
- N363H · registry record · serial 363
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER REPORTED, 'ABOUT HALFWAY SOWN THE RUNWAY (DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL) THE PILOT PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD AND LIFTED THE TAIL...IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE PLANE TRIED TO LIFT OFF AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE.' AS THEY NEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PASSENGER HEARD THE PILOT COMMENT ,'WE AREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.' HE STATED THE AIRPLANE VEERED RIGHT AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, NOSED DOWN IN A FIELD. A GROUND FIRE ENSUED, WHICH DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT AND PILOT LOGBOOK RECORDS. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FIELD WITH A FRONT END LOADER, AND WAS LOCATED IN A WOODED AREA WHEN EXAMINED BY FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT MALFUNCTION/DIFFICULTY. THE SHERIFF REPORTED THAT THE GRASS ON THE 2,500 FOOT LANG AIRSTRIP WAS TALL (ABOUT 6 INCHES) AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 51 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: RST Rochester MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,509 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.