Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28-161 N8068C

5 September 1989 · Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 5 September 1989 at about 02:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N8068C, operated by Thunderbird Aircraft Co., was involved in an accident near Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 02:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates
44.9003, -93.3695
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Registration
N8068C
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Thunderbird Aircraft Co.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
St. Cloud → Lakeville
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
MKC89LA193

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 0 3

Probable cause

ENGINE ASSEMBLY DOWELL PIN SHEARED CAUSING TOTAL POWERPLANT FAILURE AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE DRIVER OF THE GROUND VEHICLE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Jul 1989 Piper PA-28-161
N2752M
Beverly, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
Beverly Flight Center, Inc. Minor injuries -
9 Oct 1989 Piper PA-28
N6340R
Delavan, Minnesota, United States - Fatal 2
24 Oct 1989 Piper PA-28-161
N36163
Elkader, Iowa, United States Pritts Aviation Fatal 2
21 Jan 1989 Piper PA-28-180
N16375
Chicago, Illinois, United States Michael J. Belica Fatal 2
14 Jul 1989 Piper PA-28-160
N5913W
Hammond, New York, United States - Minor injuries -
9 Jun 1989 Piper PA-28-180
N33320
Ashland, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
A & S Flying Services Fatal 1

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
18 Nov 1989 Beechcraft 95-B55B
N5678K
Lakeville, Minnesota, United States Dean Frye No injuries -
2 May 1989 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82
N434AA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
19 Oct 1989 Cessna 150
N7047X
Brooten, Minnesota, United States Beery, John E. Minor injuries -
22 Oct 1989 Hughes 369HS
N3961H
Ogilvie, Minnesota, United States - No injuries -
24 Oct 1989 Pierce MP-2
N6FP
Caledonia, Minnesota, United States Rollins, Charles A No injuries -
2 Nov 1989 Bell 206L-3
N3174S
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States Air Methods, Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States