Piper PA-22-150 accident near Cohasset, Minnesota, September 5, 1988
On September 5, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7222D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cohasset, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PIC TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH IN ORDER TO CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH OF HIS FINAL APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cohasset, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7222D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON FINAL APCH TO LAND AT A PVT AIRSTRIP. THE PLT STATED THAT ON EARLIER ATTEMPTS TO LAND HE WAS HIGH AND FAST. HE STATED HE INTENTIONALLY SLOWED THE ACFT AND USED LESS ALT IN ORDER TO NOT LAND TOO LONG ON THE AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT ON SHORT FINAL, THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW THE TREE LINE BECAUSE OF A DOWNDRAFT. HE STATED HE ADDED POWER BUT WAS AFRAID THAT IF HE RAISED THE NOSE, THE ACFT WOULD STALL. THEREFORE, HE KEPT THE NOSE LEVEL AND FLEW THROUGH THE TREE TOPS. THE ACFT CONTACTED ONE LARGE TREE AND DESCENDED TO THE AIRSTRIP.
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: 81 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cohasset MN
- Destination: Cohasset MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from CPZ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.