Cessna 150 accident near Rolla, North Dakota, January 18, 1991
On January 18, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N18583, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rolla, North Dakota (Rolla airport). 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
COMPENSATION FOR WIND WAS INADEQUATE ANAD DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAIN BY THE PIC. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, GUSTY CROSSWIND, AND A SNOWBANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rolla, North Dakota · Rolla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N18583 · registry record · serial 15073961
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A SNOW PACKED RUNWAY, WITH A GUSTY CROSSWIND, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST ON THE ROLL OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D05 Garrison ND at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:49 pm from MOT, 50 miles away
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.