Cessna 172 accident near Grand Rapids, Minnesota, February 28, 1989
On February 28, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6418D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Rapids, Minnesota (Grand Rapids airport). It was an instructional 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 ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Rapids, Minnesota · Grand Rapids · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6418D · registry record · serial 17272793
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING TAKE-OFFS AND LDGS, THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT PRIOR TO TOUCH-DOWN DURING THE LANDING FLARE, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A SNOW BANK, THEN OVERTURNED. A 60 DEGREE CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 10 KNOTS EXISTED AT 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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,606 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 8, 1988; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPZ Grand Rapids MN at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,740 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from GPZ, 1 miles away
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.