Piper PA-38-112 accident near Monticello, Minnesota, May 10, 1991
On May 10, 1991 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2587N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Minnesota (Pilot'S Cove 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 PILOT IN COMMAND'S (CFI) DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1991 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Minnesota · Pilot'S Cove · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2587N · registry record · serial 38-79A0932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE POST SOLO STUDENT WAS PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD TAKE OFF ON RUNWAY 18 (2,550' X 140', TURF). WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE VARIABLE BETWEEN 220 AND 260 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 22 KNOTS. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROTATE, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 75 FEET FROM THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY, NOSED DOWN IN A SOFT FIELD. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY CONDITION WAS ROUGH AND BUMPY, MAKING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DIFFICULT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 424 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,124 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 9, 1991; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northland Aircraft Services
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,550 ft by 140 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.