Amateur-built EAA SPECIAL accident near Pembina, North Dakota, October 8, 1984
On October 8, 1984 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built EAA SPECIAL, registered N4632T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pembina, North Dakota (Pembina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1984 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pembina, North Dakota · Pembina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAA SPECIAL EAA SPECIA
- Registration
- N4632T · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST OPERATION IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.DURING TAXI, EXCESSIVE USE OF BRAKES CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO WEAVE SEVERELY. POWER WAS NOT REDUCED BUT BACK STICK INPUT WAS MADE. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY IN GROUND EFFECT, STALLED AT ABOUT 25 FT AGL & SPUN 1/2 TURN BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND NOSE 1ST.
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: 155 hours in all; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 563 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1984; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.