Piper PA-28 accident near Crookston, Minnesota, July 27, 1993
On July 27, 1993 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N172ND, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crookston, Minnesota (Kirkwood Field). 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 DELAYED IN-FLIGHT DECISION. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1993 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Crookston, Minnesota · Kirkwood Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N172ND · registry record · serial 2837007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER FLARING THE AIRCRAFT FOR A GRASS STRIP LANDING THE AIRPLANE 'DIDN'T TOUCH DOWN FOR A LONG TIME.' THE OTHER PILOT ABOARD TOLD THE PILOT TO 'GO AROUND,' AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT CLIMB IMMEDIATELY, AND 'HIT THE TAXIWAY FOR RUNWAY 13-31. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH ALONGSIDE RUNWAY 13-31.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 259 hours in all; 199 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,220 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 21, 1993; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,758 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Departed from: GFK Grand Forks ND at 12:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,089 ft by 202 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from CKN, 1 miles away
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.