North American T-28A N9103F

Summary

On 2 July 2017 at about 23:00 local time, a North American T-28A registered N9103F was involved in an accident near Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 July 2017 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Moorhead, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Moorhead Municipal (JKJ)

Coordinates

46.0000, -96.0000

Aircraft

North American T-28A

Registration

N9103F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1951

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fargo → Pelican Rapids

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA250

1 person died.

Controlled descent into terrain due to engine issues, the reason for which could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no evidence of malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot took off in the airplane for a cross-country personal flight. Shortly after reaching 1,800 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot contacted the departure controller and said he was diverting to another nearby airport. He did not provide a reason for the diversion nor did he declare an emergency, and when asked if he needed assistance, he replied "no." Subsequently, the controller told the pilot that a frequency change was approved and that radar services were terminated; however, no further communications were received from the pilot. Radar data showed the airplane in a controlled descent on a southerly heading toward the diversion airport. The descent distance from 1,800 ft msl to the point of impact was 7.5 miles, for an average descent rate of 120 ft per mile. One witness reported that he saw the airplane fly over him and that it was "obviously in distress" and making a "terrible racket." One witness said the engine was "popping," and another witness reported that the airplane "sounded like it was in trouble." One witness reported seeing the airplane's right wing clip a light pole. The airplane then impacted a cornfield 1/2 mile from the airport. Examination and disassembly of the engine revealed damage to the propeller case and gear case that was consistent with the engine running at impact, which corroborated the witnesses' reports, and no evidence of malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Oil specimens were within normal ranges. The reason for the abnormal engine sounds reported by the witnesses could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.