Cessna 150F accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota, June 7, 2004
On June 7, 2004 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N6620F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forest 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 pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which resultied in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. Factors associated with the accident were the dark light conditions and the water on which the forced landing was made.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2004 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Forest Lake, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6620F · registry record · serial 15063220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a forced landing in a lake following fuel exhaustion. The pilot departed Jamestown, North Dakota, at 1800 with full fuel tanks. He stated he climbed to an altitude of 9,500 feet, but that the airplane began "acting funny" around 7,000 feet so he decided to land in Enderlin, North Dakota, at 1930. While on the ground the pilot determined the engine problem was a result of him not leaning the engine at the higher altitudes and he departed at 1930 with an intended destination of New Richmond, Wisconsin. The pilot stated he planned the flight for 3 hours 15 minutes, and that he figured he had 4 hours of fuel left on board. The pilot reported that while en route he decided to land in Osceola, Wisconsin, because it was getting late. He stated he then became "a little apprehensive about the fuel" so he decided to land in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The pilot reported the engine "abruptly quit" during the descent. He stated he attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He stated there was a populated area between his position and the airport, so he turned to land on the lake to avoid injuring anyone on the ground. The pilot stated the next thing he remembers was exiting the airplane after it contacted the water. The pilot swam to shore and flagged down a police car that was responding to the report of an airplane in the lake. The pilot reported to the police officer that he had run out of fuel. On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that the pilot completed, he reported the accident could have been prevented "by fueling and/or not descending until over airport."
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: 132 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5N4 Enderlin ND
- Destination: RHN Forest Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from CBG
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.