Piper PA-28R accident near Starbuck, Minnesota, May 7, 1990
On May 7, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R, registered N1633H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Starbuck, Minnesota (Starbuck, airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WERE MISJUDGED AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Starbuck, Minnesota · Starbuck, · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R · all PA-28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N1633H · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7737005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF ON A 2500 FOOT GRASS STRIP, DURING STRONG, GUSTY, CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, THE COMMERCIAL PILOT LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER BREAKING GROUND. THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH THE PILOT AND THREE PAX, ABOUT 40 GALLONS OF FUEL AND BAGGAGE. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 86 DEGREES AND THE 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND WAS ABOUT 18 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 25.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,943 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,806 as pilot in command; 725 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix Aero INC.
The flight
- Departed from: D32 Starbuck MN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: M1C Crystal MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Observation at 9:51 pm from AXN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.