NTSB CHI90LA092 — 1990-03-02 · BRAINERD, Minnesota, United States

Current FAA registration · N3967K

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-140
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19671018
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A49C6A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N3967K Piper PA-28-140 None

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.

Factual narrative

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR (VASI) DURING A NIGHT LANDING ATTEMPT TO AN UNLIGHTED RUNWAY AT THE COMPLETION OF A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT STATED ON HIS ACCIDENT REPORT FORM THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS TWICE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. DURING HIS FINAL APPROACH TO THE LANDING RUNWAY HE STATES THAT WIND WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS 'SEVERE WIND SHEAR' DISPLACED HIM TO THE POINT THAT HE HAD TO LAND ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE VASI SUPPORT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE AIRPORT LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS CONDUCTED BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THIS TEST SHOWED THE LIGHTS TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_CHI90LA092.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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