Cessna 172H accident near Williams, Minnesota, March 13, 1986
On March 13, 1986 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3706R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- March 13, 1986 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3706R · no longer on the register · serial 55506
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE A LOW PASS OVER A FROZEN, SNOW COVERED LAKE, THEN INTENDED TO MAKE A CLIMBING LEFT TURN. HE RPRTD THE WX & LIGHT CONDS AS 'SLIGHT HAZE, POOR HORIZON VISIBILITY, VERY WHITE OUT.' AS THE PLT CONTD WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A CLIMBING TURN, THE ACFT ENTERED A DSCNT & IMPACTED THE FROZEN LAKE. IN REFERENCE TO THIS ACCIDENT, THE PLT STATED THAT DURING HAZY CONDITIONS, SUNGLASSES THAT ARE LIGHTLY SHADED ON THE BOTTOM & DARK AT THE TOP CAN 'HELP CONFUSE THE HORIZON.'
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: 78 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,416 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1986; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROX Roseau MN at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from INL, 65 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.