Cessna 150J accident near New York Mills, Minnesota, July 3, 1982
On July 3, 1982 at about 10:18 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N61330, was substantially damaged in an accident near New York Mills, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1982 · about 10:18 pm local time
- Place
- New York Mills, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N61330 · registry record · serial 15797
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM A 2,500 FT ALFALFA FIELD WHICH INITIALLY SLOPED DOWNWARD THEN UPWARD NEAR THE POINT OF LIFT-OFF. A WITNESS STATED THE ACFT DID NOT APPEAR TO CLIMB. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH 40 FT HIGH POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT FROM THE POINT OF LIFT-OFF. USING THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE TABLE IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 2,035 FT TO CLEAR A 50-FT OBSTACLE. THIS FIGURE IS BASED ON 30 DEG C AT 1,500 FT PRESSURE ALTITUDE PLUS 15% FOR A DRY GRAS RWY AT MAX GROSS WEIGHT. THE ALFALFA WAS BETWEEN 12 TO 18 INCHES HIGH. THE ACFT WAS 26 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT.
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: 69 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,718 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New York Mills MN at 5:18 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.