Piper PA-38-112 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 17, 1997
On June 17, 1997 at about 1:55 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2455F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Crystal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during a go-around (aborted landing). Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's improper flare for landing, the reduced light conditions at dusk, and the obstruction (static wire) that was encountered during the go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1997 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Crystal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2455F · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0456
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot said that the airplane bounced during landing. 'To avoid continued bounces, I decided to go-around. When I added power, the plane turned, heading off the runway. I tried to regain airspeed with full power.' The student pilot said that he did not have sufficient altitude to clear some buildings on the northwest side of the airport. He flew the airplane between two buildings. 'It [the airplane] appears to have caught a wire drawn between the buildings. The plane pitched down, hitting two fences. The airplane came to rest in a group of trees.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies.
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: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,378 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1997; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31L, 3,266 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from MIC
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.