Cessna 150K accident near Pemberton, Minnesota, February 22, 1989
On February 22, 1989 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6010G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pemberton, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR JUDGEMENT ON THE PART OF THE PILOT IN THAT HE ATTEMPTED A DOWN WIND TAKE OFF WITHOUT ADEQUATE DISTANCE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1989 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Pemberton, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6010G · no longer on the register · serial 7150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF ON A GRAVEL ROAD WITH 18 KNOT TAILWIND CONDITION. FOLLOWING LIFT OFF HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH TREE IN HIS DEPARTURE PATH. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. THE PILOT HAD NO CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THREE YEARS OVERDUE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO 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: 280 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 15 in the last 30 days; 280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1985; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 1°F (-17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MSP, 58 miles away
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.