Beech C-23 accident near Cottage Grove, Minnesota, May 28, 1991
On May 28, 1991 at about 5:24 am local time, a Beech C-23, registered N5172M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Grove, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PRE FLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE AND IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1991 · about 5:24 am local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N5172M · no longer on the register · serial M-2046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AIRPLANE WAS FLYING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY TRIP WHEN THE ENGINE CEASED TO OPERATE. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ONTO A RAIN SOAKER PLOWED FIELD. UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE AND NOSED OVER. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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: 74 hours in all; 3 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: General Avaition Services
The flight
- Departed from: DLH Duluth MN at 3:22 am
- Destination: FCM Eden Prairie MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from FCM, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.