What happened
On October 5, 2025, at approximately 13:10 CDT, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N4218T, was involved in an accident near McGregor, Minnesota. The aircraft departed from Isedor Iverson Airport (HZX) as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft impacted a marsh field located approximately 0.6 nautical miles from the departure end of runway 14.
According to reports from law enforcement, the pilot stated that the engine lost power and the airplane was unable to climb. The accident resulted in 3 serious injuries to the pilot and two passengers; there were 0 fatalities.
The investigation
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank. Both wing tanks contained fuel, and subsequent fuel samples taken from both tanks showed no evidence of water contamination. The inspection also noted that the wings, fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage.