Cessna 172H accident near Hackensack, Minnesota, February 18, 2002
On February 18, 2002 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N1463F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hackensack, Minnesota (Webb Lake 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 winds conditions which resulted in the failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind conditions and the trees alongside the runway which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2002 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Hackensack, Minnesota · Webb Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1463F · registry record · serial 172-54958-H
- 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 when nearing his destination, he listened to the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at the Pine River Airport. He stated the AWOS reported the winds were from 150 to 160 degrees at 12 to 14 knots, with gusts of 18 to 20 knots. He reported he continued to monitor the AWOS and the "conditions trended toward improvement with velocity dropping and gusts disappearing from time to time." The pilot reported the airplane was lined up with runway 14 for landing, when at an altitude of 5 to 8 feet above the runway, a "strong" gust of wind moved the airplane to the right. He reported that he applied power to go around, but at an altitude of about 20 feet above the ground, the right wing of the airplane contacted trees alongside the runway. The airplane turned approximately 90 degrees to the right and settled to the ground in an upright position. The pilot reported the trees were approximately 50 feet off the side of the runway.
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: 509 hours in all; 494 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,081 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 2001; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIC Crystal MN at 11:45 pm
- Destination: MN00 Hackensack MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
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.