Cessna 180 accident near Eveleth, Minnesota, August 2, 1991
On August 2, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N9377T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eveleth, 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 THE PROPER DESCENT RATE AND ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE APPROACH. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eveleth, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N9377T · no longer on the register · serial 50877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD A PRIVATE, SINGLE ENGINE LAND RATING AND WAS ENROUTE TO TAKE HIS SINGLE ENGINE SEA FLIGHT CHECK. HE DELAYED AT A LAKE THREE MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION TO PRACTICE SOME TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. WHILE ATTEMPTING A POWER OFF LANDING HE GOT SLOW AND HIGH ON FINAL AND DID NOT ADD POWER IN TIME TO STOP THE SINK RATE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
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: 127 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 98 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,705 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1991; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,870 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Y4 Lino Lakes MN at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; not recorded at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from H1B, 20 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.