Cessna 172P accident near Sauk Center, Minnesota, April 6, 1988
On April 6, 1988 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N62218, was destroyed in an accident near Sauk Center, Minnesota. 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
- April 6, 1988 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Sauk Center, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N62218 · registry record · serial 17275230
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE ON THE LAST LEG OF A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A FROZEN LAKE, EXECUTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, AND MADE A HARD LANDING ON THE LAKE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED 2-3 QUARTS OF WATER IN THE LEFT TANK, AND SMALL AMOUNTS IN THE RIGHT TANK AND FUEL BOWL. THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE DID NOT PREFLIGHT AFTER TAKING ON FUEL AT HIS FIRST ENROUTE AIRPORT.
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
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,364 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1987; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVE Montevideo MN at 3:25 pm
- Destination: MIC Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from AXN, 23 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.