Pilot's Cove Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monticello, Minnesota 55362
Friday, May 10, 1991 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE POST SOLO STUDENT WAS PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD TAKE OFF ON RUNWAY 18 (2,550' X 140', TURF). WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE VARIABLE BETWEEN 220 AND 260 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 22 KNOTS. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROTATE, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 75 FEET FROM THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY, NOSED DOWN IN A SOFT FIELD. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY CONDITION WAS ROUGH AND BUMPY, MAKING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DIFFICULT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S (CFI) DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/10/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MONTICELLO
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55362
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PILOT'S COVE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 20Y
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 943
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1275
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43866
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2587N
NTSB Number CHI91LA276
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0932
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 9 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 46
Airframe Hours 4124
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTHLAND AIRCRAFT SERVICES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address CRYSTAL AIRPORT
Operator City MINNEAPOLIS
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2550
Runway Width 140
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --