Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 21MF accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 12, 2012
On July 12, 2012 at about 2:58 pm local time, a Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 21MF, registered N9307, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Flying Cloud airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed application of wheel brakes to slow the airplane down on landing and the airplane’s failed drag chute, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2012 · about 2:58 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Flying Cloud · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 21MF · all MIG 21MFs on the register
- Registration
- N9307 · no longer on the register · serial 96004307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot established an appropriate speed during the approach and landed about 300 feet down the 5,000-foot-long runway. Within seconds of touching down, the pilot brought the throttle control to idle and deployed the drag chute. However, when the chute deployed, it did not fully inflate and then separated from the airplane. The pilot was not immediately aware the drag chute had failed and continued to try to deploy the chute. The pilot said that he used maximum braking to slow the airplane but was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. The pilot swerved to the left to avoid crossing a state highway, and the airplane struck a berm and a fence before it stopped. The pilot said that he had successfully tested the drag chute in preparation for this particular landing and had no previous problems deploying the chute before the accident. A review of performance data revealed that the pilot had sufficient runway length to land without use of the drag chute had he applied the wheel brakes immediately upon landing.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 26, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 21,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Tomansky R-13-300 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DKB Dekalb IL at 2:20 pm
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 10R, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from FCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.