Cessna 170B accident near Maple Plain, Minnesota, October 27, 1993
On October 27, 1993 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2923D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maple Plain, Minnesota (Maple Plain airport). It was a personal 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 IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE ABORTED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1993 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Maple Plain, Minnesota · Maple Plain · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2923D · registry record · serial 26866
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BEGAN A LANDING ON A 2900 FOOT RUNWAY WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS, GUSTING 15 TO 20 KNOTS. THE APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY WAS OVER TREES AND ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE MADE THE APPROACH WITH A LOW POWER SETTING, FULL FLAPS, AND WITH THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON. AS HE WAS ABOUT TO LAND, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND THE AIRPLANE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT 'APPLIED POWER TO EFFECT A GO AROUND TO LAND A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY.' HE SAID THE AIRPLANE SEEMED TO WEATHERVANE INTO THE WIND AND BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT OVER PLOWED GROUND TOWARD TREES. HE TRIED TO ALIGN THE FLIGHT PATH MORE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE RUNWAY; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND IMPACTED THE PLOWED GROUND ABOUT 200 TO 300 FEET LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PREEXISTING ANOMALIES.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,005 hours in all; 314 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 15,205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1993; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STC Saint Cloud MN at 4:50 pm
- Destination: MN69
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.