Cessna 150 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 7, 1989
On May 7, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6411K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Anoka CO 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 PILOTS FAILURE TO PROPERLY CALCULATE FUEL CONSUMPTION WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FUEL RESERVE AND FUEL EXHAUSTION PRIOR TO REACHING HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTANT STALL INTO TREES WHILE TRYING TO FLY TO THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS FAILURE TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A CLOSER AIRPORT WHEN HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Anoka CO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6411K · no longer on the register · serial 15077689
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LAST LEG OF A STUDENT, SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO TO MIS-FIRE ABOUT 25 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION ARPT. HE APPLIED CARB HEAT AND RICHENED THE MIXTURE, WHICH RESTORED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. ABOUT 6 MILES FROM DESTINATION, THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN BEGAN MISSING AND APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT, THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED ON THE ARPT, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CRASHED SOUTHEAST OF THE INTENDED RUNWAY. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS, THEN STRUCK THE WET, MARSHY TERRAIN AND OVERTURNED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE STOPPED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APRX 1 HOUR SINCE THE LAST TAKEOFF POINT.
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: 50 hours in all; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,132 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 22, 1989; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXN Alexandria MN at 7:30 pm
- Destination: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 4,856 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from MIC, 8 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.