Piper PA-25-235 accident near Dawson, Minnesota, June 3, 1995
On June 3, 1995 at about 6:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4428P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dawson, Minnesota (Dawson Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on takeoff. A factor in the accident was the tall grass.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1995 · about 6:53 pm local time
- Place
- Dawson, Minnesota · Dawson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4428P · registry record · serial 25-2719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE POOR CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER PICKING UP A LOAD OF CHEMICAL, THE PILOT PREPARED TO TAKEOFF ON THE GRASS. WHILE ON THE INITIAL GROUND RUN, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT SPRAY BOOM ENCOUNTERED TALL GRASS. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE RIGHT WING AND PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED. THIS AIRPORT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 928 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 854 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 5:30 pm
- Destination: DXX Madison MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 145° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.