Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Willmar, Minnesota, November 29, 1991
On November 29, 1991 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N80553, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willmar, Minnesota (Willamr airport). It was a personal 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
AN INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION WHICH RESULTED IN FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICING CONDITIONS AND THE EXCESSIVE DESCENT DURING LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1991 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Willmar, Minnesota · Willamr · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N80553 · no longer on the register · serial 28-80553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED IFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS AND REQUESTED A CLEARANCE TO VFR ON TOP. AFTER REACHING 8000 FEET MSL, AND STILL IN THE CLOUDS, HE REQUESTED AN IFR APPROACH TO WILLMAR, MN. AFTER CROSSING THE THRESHOLD FOR LANDING, HE ADDED FULL FLAPS AND REDUCED POWER. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND SUSTAINED A GEAR COLLAPSE. THE AIRFRAME HAD ABOUT ONE HALF INCH OF ICE ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS AND EMPENNAGE.
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: 253 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Eden Prairie MN at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded at 800 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from STC, 50 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.
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.