- A replica Piper PA-18 crashed during departure from Buffalo Municipal Airport in Minnesota on September 27, 2026.
- Two people were aboard; their condition was unconfirmed in initial reports.
- The NTSB is leading the investigation, and the cause remains unknown as the FAA assists.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an investigation after a replica Piper PA-18 crashed while departing Buffalo Municipal Airport in Buffalo, Minnesota, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Two people were aboard.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) placed the crash at around 4:20 p.m. The aircraft went down during departure.
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Authorities had not confirmed the condition of the two people in the immediate reports. The early accounts left their status unresolved.
The FAA said the NTSB would provide further updates as the investigation proceeds. Officials have not established what caused the crash.
The reported crash time followed the first response call
The Buffalo Police Department said the crash was reported around 4:10 p.m. That timing differs from the FAA’s estimate of when the aircraft crashed.
| Event | Reported time or location |
|---|---|
| Crash reported to police | Around 4:10 p.m. |
| FAA’s estimate of the crash | Around 4:20 p.m. |
| Airport address | 1309 County Road 134 |
The airport is about 42 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The two reported times describe separate points in the response timeline: the call to police and the estimated time of the crash.
Police, fire crews and sheriff’s deputies answered the call
The Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Fire Department responded, while the Wright County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. The response brought local agencies to the airport as investigators began examining the incident.
Scene images showed the aircraft overturned on the runway and covered with a gray tarp. The available descriptions place the wreckage on the runway after the departure-phase crash.
The FAA said the aircraft went down as it was leaving the airport. Investigators are examining what led to the crash, but early reports did not identify a cause.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, with the FAA also involved. The agency is expected to provide further updates as investigators work to determine what happened.
