Cessna 172N accident near Rochester, Minnesota, January 26, 1991
On January 26, 1991 at about 6:08 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N9419E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester, Minnesota (Rochester Muni 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1991 · about 6:08 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, Minnesota · Rochester Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N9419E · no longer on the register · serial 17272255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT RETURNING FROM A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ATTEMPTED TO LAND WITH AN 18 KNOT CROSSWIND 40 DEGREES LEFT OF RUNWAY HEADING. PILOT REPORTED THAT AIRCRAAFT BEGAN TO SKIP TO THE RIGHT ON LANDING ROLL, AND THAT THE WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING. PILOT CORRECTED THE WING LIFT WITH ALLERON, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT STRUCK A SNOWBANK ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY.
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: 28 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aerodrome Avaition, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MKT Mankato MN at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,533 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 N9419E 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.