Cessna 152 accident near Fargo, North Dakota, December 23, 1991
On December 23, 1991 at about 8:47 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757YK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fargo, North Dakota (Hector Int'L airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INTERPRETATION OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST, AND THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION(S). FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE CONFUSING COMMUNICATIONS BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST, AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 1991 · about 8:47 pm local time
- Place
- Fargo, North Dakota · Hector Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757YK · no longer on the register · serial 15280108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT INITIALLY REQUESTED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AT A BUSY AIRPORT. THE CONTROLLER TOLD THE PILOT TO DO A FULL STOP ON THE RUNWAY AND SHE WOULD TELL THE PILOT WHEN TO DEPART. THE CONTROLLER SUBSEQUENTLY CLEARED AN AIRPLANE TO LAND BEHIND THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ON THE SAME RUNWAY, AND CLEARED ANOTHER AIRPLANE FOR A LOW APPROACH ON A RUNWAY THAT INTERSECTED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE ACCIDENT RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THE STUDENT PILOT TOUCHED DOWN, THE CONTROLLER CLEARED HER FOR A TOUCH AND GO. THE STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ANSWER THE CONTROLLER, BUT FUMBLED THE RADIO MIC. SHE ELECTED TO DO A TOUCH AND GO BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN SO CLEARED BY THE CONTROLLER. SHE HAD INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO BECOME AIRBORNE AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE BEYOND THE END OF 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: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Training, LTD
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,980 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from FAR, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N757YK 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.