Cessna 140 accident near Cook, Minnesota, July 23, 2002
On July 23, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2070N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cook, Minnesota (Cook Municipal airport). It was a personal 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's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cook, Minnesota · Cook Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2070N · registry record · serial 12306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The left main landing gear separated from the airplane while landing on runway 13. The pilot reported the approach was normal and after touchdown, the airplane continued straight on the runway for a short distance prior to veering to the right. The pilot reported he got the airplane back to the center of the runway at which time the wheel axle and brake assembly separated from the left main gear. The left main gear leg contacted the runway and the airplane was pulled to the left. The gear leg separated from the airplane and the fuselage, propeller, and left wing struck the runway. The airplane skidded off the side of the runway coming to rest in the grass. The weather observation taken at the Cook Municipal Airport, two minutes prior to the accident, recorded with winds as calm. The pilot reported the winds were variable out of the south at 5 - 6 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 451 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 389 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 21, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2002; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-14F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COQ Cloquet MN at 8:00 pm
- Destination: CQM Cook MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from CQM
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.