Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Stewartville, Minnesota, August 26, 1996
On August 26, 1996 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N801SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stewartville, Minnesota (Rochester Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in a failure to reach the proper touchdown point for the landing. The fractured nose gear shimmy damper attaching collar and the jammed nose gear were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1996 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stewartville, Minnesota · Rochester Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N801SP · registry record · serial 32R-8013070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after climb out on an IFR flight plan, the pilot realized that he had a landing gear problem. He diverted to a nearby airport and made a fly-by past the tower. Tower personnel advised him that his nose gear was partially extended. On final approach for landing, the pilot shut off the engine to make a dead stick landing to avoid damaging the airplane. The airplane touched down on terrain 200 yards short of the runway threshold. Examination of the airplane revealed a fractured nose wheel shimmy damper attaching collar.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 771 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 761 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,581 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIG5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STP St. Paul MN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CHA Chattanooga TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 5,198 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from RST
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.
Other NTSB records under N801SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.