Piper PA28-140 accident near Albany, Minnesota, May 28, 1991
On May 28, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N95041, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albany, Minnesota (Skalicky airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
THE CFI'S FAILURE TO TAKE TIMELY AND PROPER REMEDIAL ACTION WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE TALL GRASS EDGING THE RUNWAY, AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, Minnesota · Skalicky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N95041 · no longer on the register · serial 28-25781
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF ON THE GRASS RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AT A POINT ABOUT 1500 FEET DOWN THE GRASS RUNWAY, THERE WAS A 'LOSS IN RPM AND AIRSPEED.' POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE POWERPLANT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR TRACKS REVEALED THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOWED GRASS STRIP INTO TALLER VEGETATION AT A POINT APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN CONTINUED PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY, ACROSS AN ALFALFA FIELD, UNTIL IT STRUCK A DRAINAGE DITCH AND THE LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 19,000 as pilot in command; 8,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,709 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1991; 12 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 0, 2,300 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from STC, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.