Cessna 172 accident near Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, June 22, 1989
On June 22, 1989 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3814S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY SECURE THE OIL CAP WHEN HE SERVICED THE AIRCRAFT AND OIL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1989 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sauk Rapids, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3814S · registry record · serial 17251014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG BEGAN SHAKING & SMOKING. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A CULTIVATED FIELD, BUT THE ACFT NOSED DOWN IN SOFT MUDDY TERRAIN & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE HE TOOK OFF, HE SERVICED THE ACFT WITH FUEL. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL, CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL & REPLACED THE OIL CAP. HOWEVER, AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE OIL CAP WAS ABSENT & THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BY LACK OF LUBRICATION.
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: 204 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,102 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1989; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nodak Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: GFK Grand Forks ND at 9:00 pm
- Destination: STC St Cloud MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.