Cessna 172S accident near Princeton, Minnesota, February 25, 2023
On February 25, 2023 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1999 Cessna 172S, registered N208SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Princeton, Minnesota (Princeton Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the runway condition combined with a right crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2023 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, Minnesota · Princeton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 1999 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N208SP · no longer on the register · serial 172S8208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane “started to slide to the left on the ice” on the snow and ice-covered runway. The pilot chose to abort the takeoff. During the abort, the airplane kept “pulling to the left” and impacted the terrain between the runway and taxiway. Upon impact, the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and wing struts. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off with a 40° right crosswind at 8 knots.
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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 103 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
Passenger
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 10,853 hours total
- Operator: Twin Cities Flight Training, Inc
The flight
- Destination: KANE Blaine MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KPNM
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPNM 252055Z AUTO 20008KT 10SM CLR M06/M12 A2996 RMK AO2 TSNO=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 30, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.