Piper PA-38 accident near Buffalo, Minnesota, June 4, 1989
On June 4, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N38329, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, Minnesota (Buffalo airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE BY THE STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, HIGH VEGETATION (GRASS), AND A DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, Minnesota · Buffalo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N38329 · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A1124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) STATED THAT WHILE THE STUDENT WAS PRACTICING A SIMULATED EMERGENCY LANDING, IT BECAME EVIDENT THE ACFT WOULD LAND SHORT OF THE RWY. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT & ADDED FULL POWER TO GO AROUND. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE & CONTACTED GRASS ON THE OVERRUN. THE PLT SAID THE GRASS 'DRAGGED THE AIRPLANE DOWNWARD CAUSING THE MAIN GEAR TO CONTACT THE SURFACE.' AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST WHICH CAUSED IT TO WEATHERVANE. THE ACFT THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT, CONTACTED THE TERRAIN WITH THE LEFT WING, SPUN AROUND & HIT A DITCH. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 369 HRS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 369 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 304 as pilot in command; 35 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,337 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 1989; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Y2 at 5:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:06 pm from FCM, 40 miles away
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.