Cessna 150 accident near Moorhead, Minnesota, July 16, 1990
On July 16, 1990, a Cessna 150, registered N9873J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moorhead, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND FUEL SYSTEM MONITORING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1990
- Place
- Moorhead, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N9873J · registry record · serial A1500682
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS OF CRUISE FLIGHT, AS HE WAS DESCENDING FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. TWO ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES SOUTH-EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND INVESTIGATORS FOUND ONLY UNUSEABLE FUEL IN THE FUAL TANKS. THE PILOT REPORTED 95 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
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: 95 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLH Duluth MN at 9:53 pm
- Destination: D54 West Fargo ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:18 am from FAR, 9 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.