Cessna 150K accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota, February 7, 1987
On February 7, 1987 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5884G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota (Leaders Clear Lake airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- February 7, 1987 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Clear Lake, Minnesota · Leaders Clear Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5884G · no longer on the register · serial 15071384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT NEAR THE TOUCHDOWN POINT A GUST 'JARRED' THE ACFT AND THE THROTTLE IN THE FORWARD POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ACFT 'TOOK A STEEP LEFT' AND HE LEVELED THE WINGS, HOWEVER THERE WAS NOT TIME TO AVOID TREES WHICH WERE ABOUT 100-150 FEET FROM THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT HE THEN MADE AN IMMEDIATE LANDING AND THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ST. CLOUD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (ABOUT SIX MILES FROM LEADERS CLEAR LAKE AIRPORT) REPORTED WINDS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. CRYSTAL AIRPORT, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, REPORTED WINDS FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD FROM 280 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MSP, 47 miles away
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.