Piper J-3C-85 accident near Salol, Minnesota, August 15, 1993
On August 15, 1993 at about 8:04 pm local time, a Piper J-3C-85, registered N6301H, was destroyed in an accident near Salol, Minnesota. It was an aerial observation 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'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1993 · about 8:04 pm local time
- Place
- Salol, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3C-85 · all J-3C-85s on the register
- Registration
- N6301H · no longer on the register · serial 19481
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS AERIAL OBSERVATION OF A WHEAT FIELD. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDES (LESS THAN 100 FEET AGL), BEFORE IT PITCHED NOSE UP AND BANKED TO THE LEFT INTO THE GROUND. A POSTIMPACT FIRE ENSUED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. RECORDS INDICATE THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 435 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, OF WHICH ABOUT 390 HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CO-OWNER STATED THE PILOT HAD FLOWN LESS THAN TWO HOURS IN THE PRECEDING EIGHT MONTHS.
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: 435 hours in all; 390 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,948 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from ROX, 7 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.