Piper PA-28-161 accident near Chanhassen, Minnesota, September 5, 1989
On September 5, 1989 at about 2:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8068C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chanhassen, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE ASSEMBLY DOWELL PIN SHEARED CAUSING TOTAL POWERPLANT FAILURE AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE DRIVER OF THE GROUND VEHICLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1989 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Chanhassen, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8068C · registry record · serial 28-8216099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A NIGHT, CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE IN THE FULLY STOPPED AIRCRAFT, IT WAS STRUCK BY A MOTOR VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE LEFT WING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A REAR CRANKSHAFT DOWELL PIN HAD SHEARED, CAUSING ALL REAR ENGINE DRIVEN ACCESSORIES AND THE CAMSHAFT TO CEASE OPERATION, RESULTING IN POWERPLANT FAILURE.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC89LA193.