This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6852P
- History of Flight:
On June 28, 2026, at about 1317 local time, a privately-registered Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N6852P, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Mercer County Regional Airport (HZE/KHZE), Hazen, North Dakota. The private pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight was destined to Minot International Airport (MOT/KMOT), Minot, North Dakota.
Local law enforcement reported that the airplane was observed attempting to return to the runway with its landing gear redeployed before losing altitude and impacting the ground.
(ADS-B data run down will be written later)
- Pilot Information:
The pilot, aged 67, held a private pilot certificate (most recently updated 1/13/2020) with a rating for airplane single engine land. His third class FAA medical was issued on June 2024, with a note that he must use corrective lens(es) to meet vision standards at all required distances.
- Airplane Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number 24-1986, was manufactured in 1960. It was an all-metal monoplane of semimonocoque construction with tricycle retractable landing gear a single-engine and 4 seats. It was powered by a Lycoming O-540 reciprocating 250 hp engine.
According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH):
V. Take-Off, Climb and Stalls:
Just before take-off the following should be checked:
- (1) Controls free.
- (2) Flaps up.
- (3) Tab set.
- (4) Propeller set.
- (5) Mixture rich.
- (6) Carburetor heat off.
- (7) Fuel on proper tank.
- (8) Electric fuel pump on.
- (9) Engine gauges normal.
- (10) Door latched.
After the take-off has proceeded to the point at which a landing can no longer be made wheels down in the event of power failure, the wheels should be retracted. For maximum rate of climb, the propeller and throttle controls should be left at take off power. For reduced power climbs, the RPM can be reduced to 2400 or 2500 RPM, with full throttle, or manifold pressure can be reduced as desired.
The best rate of climb is obtained at 96 MPH indicated air- speed at sea level on the 180, 95 MPH on the 250. This speed should
be decreased about 1 MPH per thousand feet of altitude, so that at 10,000 feet, the best airspeed for maximum rate of climb is 86 MPH. A good rate of climb is obtained at lower altitudes at 100 to 110 MPH, while forward speed is increased. Reducing the climbing airspeed below 95 MPH at low altitudes has the added disadvantage of cutting down forward visibility, so no speeds below that figure are recommended.
The gross weight stalling speed of the two Comanche models with full flaps is 61 and 64 MPH respectively. The stall speed increases about 5 MPH with flaps up. All controls are effective at speeds down to the stalling speed, and stalls are gentle and easily controlled.
Engine Failure:
The most common cause of engine failure is mismanagement or malfunction of the fuel system. Therefore, the first step to take after engine failure is to move the fuel selector valve to the tank not being used. This will ‘often keep the engine running even if there is no apparent reason for the engine to stop on the tank being used. 1f changing to the opposite fuel tank does not restore the engine:
(1) Check fuel pressure and turn on electric fuel pump, if off.
(2) Push mixture control to full rich.
(3) Apply carburetor heat.
(4) Check ignition switch.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane came to rest south of the airport and was consumed by a post crash fire.
- Airport Information:
KHZE is a non-towered public airport located 2 miles east of Hazen, North Dakota. The airport field elevation was 1814.7 ft. The airport featured a single asphalt runway 15/33 which is 4999 x 75 ft.
- Weather:
At 1255, the reported weather at KHZE included: Winds 220 at 8 knots, gusting 18 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature 22°C, dewpoint 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.60 inches of mercury.
At 1315, the reported weather at KHZE included: Winds 220 at 9 knots, gusting 15 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature 23°C, dewpoint 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.61 inches of mercury.
The calculated density altitude was 3392 ft and 3501 ft respectively.
(1) METARs:
METAR KHZE 281755Z AUTO 22008G18KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2960 RMK AO2
METAR KHZE 281815Z AUTO 22009G15KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2961 RMK AO2
METAR KHZE 281835Z AUTO 21011KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2960 RMK AO2
(2) Area Forecast Discussion:
818 FXUS63 KBIS 281818 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 118 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Another round of isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms is possible this evening into Monday. - Near to above average temperatures are favored this weekend through the middle of next week, potentially warming to well above average heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1246 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 Forecast overall remains on track, although some elevated showers and thunderstorms have developed along an elevated frontal boundary across central portions. Despite high amounts of instability and shear in these areas, the elevated nature of these storms combined with a strong lifting mechanism should limit how strong these storms can be. Added in some slight PoPs to account for this activity. UPDATE Issued at 947 AM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 Limited updates needed this morning. Morning fog for the most part has lifted across the area, although some lower clouds still linger. Shower and thunderstorm chances through today will be isolated and mainly confined to the north. High temperatures will cool slightly in the west into the 70s, with 80s expected elsewhere. Overall the forecast remains on track. UPDATE Issued at 644 AM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 A little patchy fog has developed over parts of western and central North Dakota, with the most obvious reductions in visibility currently in the north central. Fog should dissipate rapidly this morning as the sun continues to rise. Otherwise, reduced PoPs in central ND through much of the day today to better match current radar and model forecast trends. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 323 AM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 A line of thunderstorms has exited the forecast area (western through central North Dakota). As such, the severe weather threat has ended across the CWA early this morning. Large upper low currently over eastern Montana/southern Saskatchewan will remain quasi-stationary as it wobbles around Montana, southern Saskatchewan, and southern Alberta through Monday. After which models are in fair agreement that it will push off east towards Manitoba before becoming quasi-stationary again Monday night through Tuesday. After Tuesday, it will finally move off to the east during the latter half of the week. Bottom line is that this will result in periodic showers and thunderstorms through the start of the workweek, some of which may be severe. Today will be mostly dry, though a few showers and thunderstorms could develop mainly in the far northwest this afternoon. Severe weather potentially returns this evening, and especially overnight into Monday morning. Surface low pressure moving from central Nebraska through eastern South Dakota will advect Gulf moisture into much of the eastern half of the state. Another potentially strong shortwave off aforementioned upper low and 500 mb vort max could help force nocturnal supercells, which would likely be elevated in nature. As such, the primary threat will be very large hail, which could be two inches or greater in diameter. The highest probability for very large hail will be in south central and parts of southeastern North Dakota. A conditional severe thunderstorm threat is possible again Monday afternoon and evening, however, that will heavily depend on how morning convection plays out and what the environment looks like later in the day. Other than a few stray showers or thunderstorms, Tuesday through Tuesday night then looks mostly dry. After which, periodic showers and thunderstorms are possible through the weekend as embedded shortwaves within southwesterly to westerly flow aloft push through the region. Though some uncertainty remains, deterministic models are in fair agreement that direct Gulf moisture will frequently be cut off during most, though not necessarily during all time periods. How this evolves will highly impact severe potential during the Holiday weekend, as well as just how high heat indices become. High temperatures will gradually increase through the week as a ridge builds over the Northern Plains and Midwest, with the current NBM favoring the warmest day overall as July 3rd. This includes the warmest ambient and apparent temperatures. Latest NBM does show a potential slight cooling trend this weekend as an upper low breaks down ridging over the Northern Plains. However, moderate uncertainty remains in regard to the forecast for the holiday weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1246 PM CDT Sun Jun 28 2026 Mainly VFR conditions are forecast for today. A few isolated to scattered showers are possible, although confidence is not high enough to include in the TAFs at this time. Tonight, increasing clouds and chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected. Most sites have prevailing to PROB30 groups in for tonight through Monday morning. Isolated to scattered severe weather is also possible tonight into Monday morning. Lower clouds may also accompany this shower activity, perhaps bringing some MVFR to brief IFR conditions. South southwest winds will become light and variable tonight through Monday morning. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...Anglin DISCUSSION...Telken AVIATION...Anglin
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