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Accidents · NTSB CHI87LA042 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 152II accident near Anoka, Minnesota, December 8, 1986

On December 8, 1986 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152II, registered N753AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anoka, Minnesota (Gateway airport). It was an instructional 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 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
December 8, 1986 · about 7:30 pm local time
Place
Anoka, Minnesota · Gateway · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 152II · all 152IIs on the register
Registration
N753AA · registry record · serial 15279634
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE ACFT WAS ON THE FIFTH TOUCH & GO OF THE STUDENT PLT TRAINING FLT WHEN A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AT 100-200 FT AGL DURING CLIMBOUT. THE CFI HAD TO LAND THE ACFT IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. EXAMINATION OF ENG AND FUEL SYSTEM FOUND NO FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. WX CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 339 hours in all; 233 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 215 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: rgt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,276 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Y25 Anoka MN at 7:00 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 16, 2,500 ft by 135 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; not recorded at 1,300 ft
  • Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 7:00 pm from MSP, 12 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew2

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.