Cessna 175 accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, June 27, 2010
On June 27, 2010 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7691M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Brainerd, Minnesota (Lake Alexandria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of airplane control while taking off with gusting wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2010 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brainerd, Minnesota · Lake Alexandria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7691M · registry record · serial 55991
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was attempting a takeoff from a lake in choppy water and with gusting wind when the left wing of the airplane contacted the water after liftoff. The airplane then impacted in a nose-down attitude resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and separation of both floats. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 7, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2010
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brainerd MN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Brainerd MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BRD, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.