Piper PA-28-140 accident near Jackson, Minnesota, August 28, 1994
On August 28, 1994 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1197X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Minnesota (Jackson Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and his delay in aborting the takeoff. Factors in the accident were the soft terrain and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1994 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Minnesota · Jackson Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1197X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7525306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED ALL PREFLIGHT WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS WERE WITHIN LIMITS FOR THE PLANNED ONE HOUR FLIGHT WITH A TOTAL OF FIVE PERSONS ABOARD. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE FAA INSPECTOR. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT STATED HE FELT THE AIRPLANE DIGGING INTO THE SOFT, WET SOD RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE BRIEFLY BUT THEN SETTLED BACK DOWN ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A RAVINE LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT REALIZE THE RUNWAY WAS SO SOFT FROM THE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT THE LOCAL AREA HAD RECEIVED RECENTLY. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
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: 650 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1993; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,510 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MN63 Jordon MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,274 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 285° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.