Beech A36 accident near Lakeville, Minnesota, October 14, 1991
On October 14, 1991 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N46MJ, was destroyed in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ENCOUNTER WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FORMATION OF AIRFRAME ICING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1991 · about 2:25 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Lakeville, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N46MJ · registry record · serial E-1427
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO CRUISE AT 10,000 FEET. WHEN HE RECEIVED PILOT REPORTS OF ICING BETWEEN 8,000 FEET AND 11,000 FEET HE REQUESTED AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 12,000 FEET. DURING THE CLIMB HE REPORTED AN INABILITY TO HOLD ALTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A DESCENT. DURING THE DESCENT HE REPORTED LOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS GIVEN ALTITUDES AND HEADINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE AIRPLANE TO AN AIRPORT, HOWEVER THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND A PORT-IMPACT FIRE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,325 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Kirvada General, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OEO Oseola WI at 1:50 pm
- Destination: STJ St. Joseph MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from MSP, 15 miles away
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N46MJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 2,530 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- L O Simenstad Municipal · departed from
- Rosecrans Memorial · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Minnesota 1,544 since 1982 · 209 in the last ten years
- Minnesota 6,939 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI92FA009.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.