Cessna 172 accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota, August 23, 1989
On August 23, 1989 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N80357, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota (Leaders airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH INADEQUATE VISUAL CUES WHICH PRECLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF A CORRECT RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT WAS READILY AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1989 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Clear Lake, Minnesota · Leaders · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N80357 · no longer on the register · serial 17266546
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT SHE RETURNED TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT LATER THAN PLANNED AND NIGHT LANDING CONDITIONS EXISTED ON ARRIVAL. THE SOD RUNWAY HAD ONLY TWO LIGHTS ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY TO AID NIGHT OPERATIONS. THE PILOT SAID IF SHE WAS UNABLE TO LAND, SHE WOULD RETURN TO ST. CLOUD, A FULL FACILITY AIRPORT, ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THERE. SHE SAID THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD SEE THE OUTLINE OF THE SOD AIRSTRIP, SO ELECTED TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY IN A SOFT BEAN FIELD DURING THE LANDING ROLL IT NOSED OVER.
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: 104 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 9 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
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
- Operator: Leaders Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BRD Brainerd MN at 1:15 am
- Destination: 8Y6 Clear Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from STC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N80357 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.