Piper PA-28-160 accident near East Gull Lake, Minnesota, May 14, 1995
On May 14, 1995 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5528W, was destroyed in an accident near East Gull Lake, Minnesota (East Gull Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees. Factors in the accident were the crosswind and gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1995 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- East Gull Lake, Minnesota · East Gull Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5528W · no longer on the register · serial 28-619
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKING OFF WITH A DIRECT LEFT CROSSWIND, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SEVERAL TREES WHICH LINED THE AIRPORT'S PERIMETER. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE TREES, THE AIRPLANE BANKED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. A SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATION WAS TAKEN TWO MINUTES AFTER THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OBSERVATION REPORTED THE WIND FROM 270 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 19 KNOTS. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 122.1 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME, 18.6 HOURS OF WHICH WERE TRAINING IN TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
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: 121 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,530 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 8, 1994; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9Y2 at 7:50 pm
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,618 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from BRD, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.