Cessna 172 accident near Crystal, Minnesota, July 9, 1989
On July 9, 1989 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6938H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crystal, Minnesota (Crystal airport). 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
AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, DUE TO AN IMPROPER LANDING FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL BOUNCES. THE LANDING GEAR FAILED IN OVERLOAD DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1989 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal, Minnesota · Crystal · 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
- N6938H · no longer on the register · serial 17265654
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT SAID THAT UPON ARRIVING AT HIS DESTINATION APT AFTER A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLT, HE BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP ABOUT TWO THIRDS DOWN RUNWAY 13. THE LOCAL WINDS WERE FROM 140 DEGREES AT ABOUT 16 KNOTS GUSTING TO 26. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE FELT HIS FINAL APPROACH SPEED WAS TOO GREAT.
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: 188 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STC St. Cloud MN at 7:50 pm
- Destination: MIC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,264 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 16 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MIC, 1 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.