Little Falls Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Little Falls, Minnesota 56345
Monday, December 27, 1993 11:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD BEEN KEPT IN A HEATED HANGAR DUE TO THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANK SUMPS WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE HANGAR. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE HANGAR THE PILOT TAXIED OUT FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT REPORTED, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE STATED HE PERFORMED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT TO LAND ON A CROSS RUNWAY. WHILE IN THE TURN THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION FOUND ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL SAMPLE REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT WING'S FUEL TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

an improper preflight by the pilot-in-command and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn. A factor associated with the accident was contaminated fuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LITTLE FALLS
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56345
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LITTLE FALLS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LXL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 1112
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1100 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LXL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1112
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1341
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 27 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1443
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5894W
NTSB Number CHI94LA060
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-160
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2674
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2835
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL J. LYTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR1 BOX323
Aircraft Owner City LITTLE FALLS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56345
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL J. LYTER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR1 BOX 323
Operator City LITTLE FALLS
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 56345
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --