Cessna 170A accident near Emily, Minnesota, May 10, 1998
On May 10, 1998 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N1491D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emily, Minnesota (Moritz Air Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper rate of descent on final. A factor was the vegetation (bushes).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1998 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Emily, Minnesota · Moritz Air Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N1491D · no longer on the register · serial 20093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, 'she saw herself sinking below glide path, added power, but the airplane didn't respond.' When asked if she tried to go-around she stated, 'I wanted to go-around, but the airplane wouldn't climb out, even with full power.' The pilot stated that the aircraft, 'clipped bushes at the end of the runway.' The pilot reported that she had two notches of flaps extended during the approach. The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that the aircraft, 'started sinking,' and that she maintained an, 'approach attitude,' and started to add power. The pilot was asked if she felt that she got behind the power curve, and she responded that she did not know what that was. The pilot stated that there were no problems with the engine prior and during the time of the accident.
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: 186 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 107 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1997; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 pm from PWC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N1491D 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.