Piper PA-28-161 and Piper PA-28-161 mid-air collision near Grand Forks, North Dakota, April 16, 1991
On April 16, 1991 at about 11:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-161 (N143ND) and Piper PA-28-161 (N114ND), were involved in a mid-air collision near Grand Forks, North Dakota. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK BY THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1991 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N143ND · no longer on the register · serial 2841135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N114ND · no longer on the register · serial 2841330
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENTERING THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA, UNDER POSITIVE CONTROL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STABILIZER BY THE PROPELLER OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ALSO ENTERING THE PATTERN. THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE PATTERN, EXECUTE A TOUCH AND GO THEN LAND TO A FULL STOP. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DAMAGE AND THE NEXT USER OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND THE DAMAGE ON THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. THE CONVERGING AIRCRAFT'S PROPELLER HAD MADE TWO SLASHED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR AND TRIM TAB.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ENTERING THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA, UNDER POSITIVE CONTROL, HE OBSERVED AN AIRCRAFT TO HIS LEFT. HE MADE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT HIS AIRCRAFT PASSED UNDER THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. HIS PROPELLER STRUCK THE STABILATOR. HE ENTERED THE PATTERN, EXECUTED A TOUCH AND GO, THEN LANDED. THE ONLY VISABLE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE PROPELLER TIPS.
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 for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,669 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 13, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from GFK, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 337 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 16, 1991; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Departed from: GFK Grand Forks ND at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.