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September 25, 1982 · Piper PA-28-181 · N82717

Mankato, MN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 25, 1982
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Mankato, MN
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N82717
Operator
Twin City Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI82FA365

At about 1530 CDT, the aircraft departed Mattoon, IL on a flight to Mankato, MN. However, the pilot landed at Albert Lea, MN where he refueled and topped the tanks with 45.5 gal of fuel. The aircraft's usable supply was 48 gal. While refueling, he reportedly told the airport manager that he thought he was at Mankato when he was landing at Albert Lea. Albert Lea was about 42 mi from Mankato. The airport manager stated that the pilot looked tired and that he (the manager) tried to persuade the pilot to continue the trip by automobile. The aircraft departed Albert Lea at about 2050 CDT. A short time later, the pilot contacted Mankato UNICOM and was provided landing information. During a night landing, the aircraft struck a power line about 65 ft AGL and 4327 ft from the runway, then nosed over and impacted in an inverted attitude. The two front seat occupants were fatally injured. Two young children in the back seats, both in child restraint seats, survived, one with minor injuries. RWY VASI LGTS on.

Full Narrative

AT ABOUT 1530 CDT, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MATTOON, IL ON A FLIGHT TO MANKATO, MN. HOWEVER, THE PILOT LANDED AT ALBERT LEA, MN WHERE HE REFUELED AND TOPPED THE TANKS WITH 45.5 GAL OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT'S USABLE SUPPLY WAS 48 GAL. WHILE REFUELING, HE REPORTEDLY TOLD THE AIRPORT MANAGER THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS AT MANKATO WHEN HE WAS LANDING AT ALBERT LEA. ALBERT LEA WAS ABOUT 42 MI FROM MANKATO. THE AIRPORT MANAGER STATED THAT THE PILOT LOOKED TIRED AND THAT HE (THE MANAGER) TRIED TO PRESUADE THE PILOT TO CONTINUE THE TRIP BY AUTOMOBILE. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ALBERT LEA AT ABOUT 2050 CDT. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PILOT CONTACTED MANKATO UNICOM AND WAS PROVIDED LANDING INFORMATION. DURING A NIGHT LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE ABOUT 65 FT AGL AND 4327 FT FROM THE RUNWAY, THEN NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. THE TWO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS, BOTH IN CHILD RESTRAINT SEATS, SURVIVED, ONE WITH MINOR INJURIES. RWY VASI LGTS ON.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:09 CDT
Nearest AirportMANKATO (0nm N)
Runway33
Runway Length5400 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN82717
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTwin City Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal2
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 35 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind10° @ 9 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 1700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point13 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:56

Appendix: Source Data