Cessna A150L and Quad City CHALLENGER I mid-air collision near Blaine, Minnesota, February 28, 1993
On February 28, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna A150L (N6059J) and Quad City CHALLENGER I (UNREG), were involved in a mid-air collision near Blaine, Minnesota (Anoka County airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 150, N6059J, AND THE PILOT OF THE CHALLENGER TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 150, N6059J, AND THE PILOT OF THE CHALLENGER TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Blaine, Minnesota · Anoka County · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna A150L · all A150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6059J · registry record · serial A 1 500 359
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Quad City CHALLENGER I CHALLENGER, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 0391-0338
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna A150L final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH AIRPLANES HAD ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 150, N6059J, STATED THAT HE HAD REPORTED HIS LOCATION AND INTENTION TO ENTER THE UPWIND LEG OF RWY 17 WHEN HE WAS 2 MI NW OF THE AIRPORT. WHEN THE CESSNA 150 WAS ABOUT MID-FIELD, ANOTHER AIRPLANE, A PIPER ARCHER, ANNOUNCED HE WAS ALSO ON THE UPWIND LEG OF RWY 17. THE CESSNA PILOT REPORTED TO THE PIPER PILOT THAT HE HAD HIM IN SIGHT. THE PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT CHALLENGER RECOUNTS REPORTING ON THE RADIO 3 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT, AND THEN AGAIN ENTERING 45 DEG TO THE DOWNWIND LEG OF RWY 17.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Quad City CHALLENGER I final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH AIRPLANES HAD ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 150, N6059J, STATED THAT HE HAD REPORTED HIS LOCATION AND INTENTION TO ENTER THE UPWIND LEG OF RWY 17 WHEN HE WAS 2 MI NW OF THE AIRPORT. WHEN THE CESSNA 150 WAS ABOUT MID-FIELD, ANOTHER AIRPLANE, A PIPER ARCHER, ANNOUNCED HE WAS ALSO ON THE UPWIND LEG OF RWY 17. THE CESSNA PILOT REPORTED TO THE PIPER PILOT THAT HE HAD HIM IN SIGHT. THE PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT CHALLENGER RECOUNTS REPORTING ON THE RADIO 3 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT, AND THEN AGAIN ENTERING 45 DEG TO THE DOWNWIND LEG OF RWY 17.
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 for the Cessna A150L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 672 as pilot in command; 75 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,567 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 1992; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANE Minneapolis MN at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,856 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Quad City CHALLENGER I from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2703 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 25D Forest Lake MN at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,856 ft by 100 ft
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 N6059J 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.