Piper PA-20 accident near Moose Lake, Minnesota, August 30, 1989
On August 30, 1989, a Piper PA-20, registered N2841P, was destroyed in an accident near Moose Lake, Minnesota. It was an instructional 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
SEVERE CORROSION OF THE LOWER FORWARD LIFT STRUT FOR THE RIGHT WING, INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE LIFT STRUT BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LIFT STRUT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE (FOLDING BACK) OF THE WING. RELATED FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE INSPECTION PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER & INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE FAA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1989
- Place
- Moose Lake, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N2841P · no longer on the register · serial 22-3138
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT (PIPER PA-22, CONVERTED TO A PA-20, IAW STC SA45AM) WAS BEING USED TO PROVIDE A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW FOR THE OWNER/PLT (CONSIDERED AS PIC ON THIS FLT). DRG FLT, THE RGT WING FOLDED BACK OVER THE FUSELAGE & THE ACFT CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE FWD LIFT STRUT FOR THE RGT WING HAD FAILED IN AN AREA OF SEVERE CORROSION. THE FAILUREOCCURRED AT THE LOWER PART OF THE LIFT STRUT NEAR THE FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT POINT. AN EXAM OF THE ANNUAL INSPN CHECKLIST INDCD ALL APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES (AD'S) WERE COMPLIED WITH AS OF 7/21/89 & THAT THE LIFT STRUTS WERE VISUALLY INSPD AT THE ANNUAL INSPN. THE ACFT LOGBOOK SHOWED THAT AD 77-03-08 (REQUIRING MECHANICAL TESTING OF THE LIFT STRUT FOR EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AT 5 YR INTERVALS) HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH IN JULY 1988. THE AROMA OF LINSEED OIL WAS NOTED IN ALL LIFT STRUTS, BUT POLYMERIZED LINSEED OIL WAS FOUND IN THE RGT & LEFT REAR STRUTS. INTERNAL CORROSION HAD PERFORATED THE RGT FWD LIFT STRUT PRIOR TO ITS FAILURE.
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: 246 hours in all; 218 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21Y Moose Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.