Cessna 172L accident near Fish Lake, Minnesota, October 5, 2002
On October 5, 2002 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N713SX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fish Lake, Minnesota. 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 altitude/clearance not maintained while maneuvering on short final for landing on the lake. The glassy water was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2002 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fish Lake, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N713SX · no longer on the register · serial 17259375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land when the airplane's left float contacted the water followed by the right wing. The pilot reported that he was approaching the landing area at an altitude of about 20 feet above water prior to initiating the turn. He described the lake conditions as being glassy at the south end of the lake with light ripples near the landing area.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 589 hours in all; 492 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 561 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 2002; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Alexander MN at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Peirz MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:21 pm from LXL, 6 miles away
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.