Piper PA-28-160 accident near Little Falls, Minnesota, December 27, 1993
On December 27, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5894W, was destroyed in an accident near Little Falls, Minnesota (Little Falls airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an improper preflight by the pilot-in-command and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn. A factor associated with the accident was contaminated fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Little Falls, Minnesota · Little Falls · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5894W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2674
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD BEEN KEPT IN A HEATED HANGAR DUE TO THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANK SUMPS WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE HANGAR. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE HANGAR THE PILOT TAXIED OUT FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT REPORTED, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE STATED HE PERFORMED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT TO LAND ON A CROSS RUNWAY. WHILE IN THE TURN THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION FOUND ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL SAMPLE REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT WING'S FUEL TANK.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,835 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: -11°F (-24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from LXL, 1 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.