Cessna R172K accident near Grand Rapids, Minnesota, July 9, 2006
On July 9, 2006 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N736VM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 control of the airplane during the landing. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty tailwind that prevailed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2006 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Rapids, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736VM · no longer on the register · serial R1722822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The float equipped airplane collided with the water and sank while returning to land on a lake that was just used for takeoff. The pilot reported he had trouble gaining altitude during the takeoff and that the surrounding terrain and trees were high. He decided to turn around and land back on the lake. The pilot stated that when he was about 20 feet above the water he pulled off the power too soon and the wind pushed the right wing down. The right float contacted the water first. The airplane then bounced and touched down again in a yaw attitude. The pilot reported the aluminum float attachment brackets on the right float broke and the airplane fell to the right resulting in wing damage. The pilot reported the local winds were from 210 degrees at 23 knots, gusting to 26 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 sea
- Flight time: 582 hours in all; 439 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 439 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Grand Rapids MN
- Destination: Grand Rapids MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 23 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.