Cessna 180 accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota, June 4, 1995
On June 4, 1995 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3149D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota (Peterson (Private) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. The proximity of trees to the runway was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1995 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Clear Lake, Minnesota · Peterson (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3149D · no longer on the register · serial 31947
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT UPON APPLICATION OF POWER' AND IMPACTED EVERGREEN TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT DURING THE OCCURRENCE, THE AIRPLANE SLID SIDEWAYS TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SAID THE RIGHT WING CAME UP ABRUPTLY, THEN CAME DOWN HARD AND HIT A TREE. SUBSEQUENTLY, A FIRE ERUPTED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS BURNS. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE UPPER BOLT WAS FOUND FRACTURED. HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF THE BOLT REVEALED THAT IT HAD FAILED IN SHEAR DUE TO DIRECT OVERSTRESS LOADING.
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: 2,600 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,560 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.