Cessna 152 II accident near Grand Marais, Minnesota, July 14, 1990
On July 14, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152 II, registered N21LA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Marais, Minnesota (Grand Marais airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Marais, Minnesota · Grand Marais · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 II · all 152 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N21LA · registry record · serial 15279587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING THE RUN-UP, TAKEOFF, CLIMBOUT, AND A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT. SHE RETURNED TO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDINGS. SHE REPORTED THAT DURING CLIMBOUT AFTER THE FIRST TOUCH AND GO, SHE NOTICED A 'SEVERE LACK OF POWER IN THE ENGINE.' SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AT REDUCED RPM UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 80 HOURS, INCLUDING 78 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE. THE ENGINE HAD 2,960 HOURS TOTAL TIME, AND HAD NEVER BEEN OVERHAULED. THE CAUSE OF THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 80 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,960 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 31, 1990; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
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.