Piper PA-22-160 accident near Scranton, North Dakota, April 24, 1990
On April 24, 1990 at about 1:55 am local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N2911Z, was destroyed in an accident near Scranton, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE PERFORMING AN INFLIGHT MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1990 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Scranton, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N2911Z · registry record · serial 226881
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A PERSONAL PLEASURE FLT FROM HIS FARM AIRSTRIP, THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF HIS ACFT AND CRASHED INTO A FIELD. THE PLT AND PAX WERE FATALLY INJURED, AND THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. FAA RECORDS DOCUMENTED THAT THE ACFT REGISTRATION HAD BEEN RETURNED APX 9 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT STATING THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN DESTROYED/SCRAPPED. THE PLT WAS NON CURRENT ON HIS MEDICAL AND BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW AND THE ACFT WAS OUT OF ANNUAL. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT AND RECORDS REVEALED POOR ACFT CONDITION MAKING IT UNAIRWORTHY, AND THE USE OF AUTO FUEL WITH NO CONVERSION. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND INDICATING MATERIAL CONDITION AS A FACTOR IN THE 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1988; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gascoyne ND at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.