Piper PA-28-140 accident near Sandstone, Minnesota, February 2, 1992
On February 2, 1992 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N56750, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandstone, Minnesota (Sandstone airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE COLLISION WITH THE DEER, THE DAMAGE TO THE GASCOLATOR WHICH RESULTED FROM THE COLLISION AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ABORT THE LANDING AFTER THE COLLISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1992 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sandstone, Minnesota · Sandstone · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N56750 · registry record · serial 287425030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, A DEER RAN TOWARD AND COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND ABORTED THE LANDING. A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES FOLLOWED BY THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE IMPACT WITH THE DEER DAMAGED THE GASCOLATOR TO THE EXTENT THAT IT COMPROMISED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FUEL STARVATION RESULTED.
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
- Flight time: 373 hours in all; 373 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Destination: 54Y Rush Hill MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DLH, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.