Cessna 172F accident near Waskish, Minnesota, February 3, 2003
On February 3, 2003 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N8112U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waskish, Minnesota (Waskish Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Contributing factors were the snow covered takeoff area and the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 2003 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waskish, Minnesota · Waskish Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8112U · registry record · serial 17252012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over during an aborted takeoff on a snow covered lake. The pilot stated that he attempted a downwind takeoff and realized that the airplane was unable to lift off. The airplane then impacted the snow bank.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 346 hours in all; 322 in this make and model; 305 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 2002; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Waskish MN at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:28 pm from VWU, 1 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.