Cessna 150J accident near Burnsville, Minnesota, August 27, 1988
On August 27, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N5561G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burnsville, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- August 27, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burnsville, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N5561G · no longer on the register · serial 15071061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL PLEASURE/AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FLIGHT, THE PILOT FAILED TO HANDLE THE AIRCRAFT PROPERLY. SUBSEQUENTLY THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED AND/OR ALTITUDE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF OBSTACLES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED FOR SLOW FLIGHT AS THE PILOT AND PASSENGER FLEW BY THE PASSENGER'S HOUSE FOR PHOTOS: FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, REDUCED POWER SETTINGS, AND CARBURETOR HEAT 'OFF'. AFTER THE SECOND FLY-BY, THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESUME NORMAL CRUISE CONFIGURATION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE/'MUSH' TO THE GROUND, COLLIDING WITH A TREE AS IT DESCENDED, THEN IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 565 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,168 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 20, 1988; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVN Lakeville MN at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from MSP, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.