Cessna 172M accident near Eveleth, Minnesota, April 29, 2001
On April 29, 2001 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12891, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eveleth, Minnesota (Eveleth-Virginia 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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind condition, the pilot's lack of experience, and the trees which were contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2001 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eveleth, Minnesota · Eveleth-Virginia Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12891 · no longer on the register · serial 17262346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with trees and the terrain following a loss of control during a go-around. The pilot reported that while on short final approach a gust of wind blew the airplane off the centerline. He reported that another gust resulted in the airplane entering a right turn which resulted in a tailwind condition. The pilot reported, "...I put full power in and was going to go around. But at that slow I didn't have much aileron control and could not get it to turn into the wind." The pilot reported he was unable to gain enough airspeed to clear the trees along the right side of the runway. The airplane contacted the trees and came to rest inverted. The local wind reported at 0935 central daylight time were from 200 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot reported having a total flight time of 66 hours, 22 of which were as pilot in command. He reported having five hours of flight time in Cessna 172 airplanes.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EVM Eveleth MN at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,694 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from EVM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.