Piper PA-28-140 accident near Hibbing, Minnesota, April 25, 1991
On April 25, 1991, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N95406, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hibbing, Minnesota (Hibbing-Chisholm airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE RECOVERY. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1991
- Place
- Hibbing, Minnesota · Hibbing-Chisholm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N95406 · no longer on the register · serial 28-24923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING THE TOUCH AND GO LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CFI STATED THE STUDENT FLARED THE AIRPLANE LATE, IT BOUNCED ON THE RUNWAY AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO MUDDY TERRAIN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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: 325 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 199 as pilot in command; 37 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1990; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,075 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.