Cessna 172E accident near Tofte, Minnesota, March 14, 1996
On March 14, 1996 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N3898S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tofte, Minnesota (Tofte 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 failure to perform adequate preflight planning which resulted in landing at a closed airport. The snow covered runway was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1996 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tofte, Minnesota · Tofte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3898S · registry record · serial 17251098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed at an airport which is 'closed indefinitely' for repairs. The runway was covered with snow. During the landing roll the nose wheel contacted deep snow and the airplane nosed over. The airport had been closed since 1993 and according to the airport owner will remain closed for two to three more years. The airport was listed as closed in the Airport Facility Directory which was not checked by the pilot. It is shown as an open airport on the most current sectional chart. According to the FAA, only airports which are listed as 'abandoned' or 'closed permanently' are removed from the sectional charts.
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: 1,550 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,745 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1996; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASX Ashland WI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 6IY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°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.