Cessna 150H accident near Grygla, Minnesota, March 4, 1990
On March 4, 1990, a Cessna 150H, registered N22923, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grygla, 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION/PLANNING, AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE LIGHT CONDITION AT DUSK, ICY TERRAIN (ROAD) AND TREE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1990
- Place
- Grygla, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22923 · no longer on the register · serial 15068617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE. WHILE IN LEVEL CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LANDING WAS EXECUTED ON A ROADWAY; HOWEVER, THE ROAD WAS ICY. DURING ROLL-OUT, THE WINGTIP CONTACTED A TREE & THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,117 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,442 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,481 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 22, 1989; 94 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: 8Y2 Buffalo MN at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ROX Roseau MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N22923 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.