Cessna 170 accident near Lakeville, Minnesota, September 18, 1994
On September 18, 1994 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170, registered N4271V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota (Airlake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadequate pre-flight inspection by the pilot when he did not insure that all the water was drained from the airplane's fuel tanks. Factors associated with this accident were contaminated fuel and powerlines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1994 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeville, Minnesota · Airlake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N4271V · no longer on the register · serial 18629
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER FLYING THE AIRPLANE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR THE PILOT REFUELED IT AND DRAINED THE SUMPS. THE PILOT SAID HE DRAINED ABOUT ONE CUP OF WATER FROM EACH FUEL TANK BEFORE HE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT SAID HE PLANNED ON LANDING THE AIRPLANE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY BUT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED TRACES OF WATER IN THE CARBURETOR ACCELERATOR PUMP WELL AND FLOAT CHAMBER. ENGINE DAMAGE PREVENTED IT FROM BEING TEST RUN. EVIDENCE OF PRE- COLLISION MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND.
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, foreign licence, private, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,001 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1994; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from Y12, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.