Cessna 152 accident near Erskine, Minnesota, January 21, 1991
On January 21, 1991 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95684, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erskine, 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1991 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erskine, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N95684 · no longer on the register · serial 15285977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON A STUDENT SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, SHE ENCOUNTERED SNOW SHOWERS, TURBULENCE AND MARGINAL VISIBILITY. A 180 DEGREE TURN WAS INITIATED TOWARDS A NEARBY AIRPORT, BUT AFTER LOSING ALTITUDE IN THE TURN, AND FIGHTING THE TURBULENCE, A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON A RURAL ROAD. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK 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
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Departed from: BJI Bemidji MN at 3:00 pm
- Destination: GFK Grand Forks ND
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 004° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.