Cessna 172N accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 20, 2002
On June 20, 2002 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4808F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Crystal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain clearance from the vehicle while taxiing. A factor was the fuel truck.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2002 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Crystal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4808F · registry record · serial 17273084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it collided with a fuel truck while taxiing off the runway after landing. The pilot stated that a fuel truck was driving on the taxiway to the left side of the runway. The pilot stated she stopped on the runway and requested taxi instructions from the control tower. She stated that the control tower told her to exit the runway on to the taxiway where the fuel truck was located. The pilot reported that she again communicated with the control tower to clarify the situation and the tower stated that they did not want the aircraft stopped at the end of the runway. According to the pilot, the fuel truck moved off of the taxiway to the northeast side on the grass. She stated that when the aircraft passed the fuel truck the left wing struck an extension on the end of the truck.
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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,522.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 2001; 242.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIC Minneapolis MN at 1:30 pm
- Destination: MIC Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24R, 2,499 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MIC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.