Mooney M20J accident near Thief Rvr Falls, Minnesota, July 5, 1988
On July 5, 1988 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N11652, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thief Rvr Falls, Minnesota (Thief Rvr Falls Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- July 5, 1988 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Thief Rvr Falls, Minnesota · Thief Rvr Falls Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N11652 · no longer on the register · serial 1353
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 326 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,441 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 1988; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Willmar Air Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GFK Grand Forks ND at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from TVF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N11652 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.