Cessna 180 accident near Duluth, Minnesota, May 26, 1989
On May 26, 1989 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N45JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota (Duluth airport). It was a business 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN TURBULENT GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1989 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Duluth, Minnesota · Duluth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N45JB · no longer on the register · serial 18052058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE PLT ENCOUNTERED GUSTY, QUARTERING, CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT NOSED OVER. THE WINDS, 20 NM NW WERE REPORTED OUT OF 300 DEGREES AT 13 KTS GUSTING TO 22. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE TO BE FROM 340 DEGREES AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 30 WITH MODERATE TURBULENCE.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,625 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLH Duluth MN at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,051 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from DLH, 20 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.