Cessna 172N accident near Pine City, Minnesota, September 2, 1990
On September 2, 1990 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733CH, was destroyed in an accident near Pine City, Minnesota (Pine City Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1990 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Pine City, Minnesota · Pine City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733CH · registry record · serial 17268187
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH 2 PSGRS ABOARD TO FLY TO A NEARBY ARPT TO REFUEL. AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RWY 35, THE ENG LOST PWR. THE ACFT CRASHED ABT 1/4 MI NORTH OF THE RWY & TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN WITH THE TAIL BROKEN DOWN & TO THE RIGHT. ONLY ABT 7 0Z OF FUEL WAS FND IN THE ACFT. LATER, THE ENGE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN DURING AN OPNL CHECK. THE PLT HAD 3 HRS OF FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.
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: 105 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,544 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 12, 1990; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Center One
The flight
- Departed from: 90D at 5:16 pm
- Destination: 19D Mora MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from STC, 49 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N733CH 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.