Beech B36TC accident near Inver Grove Hgt, Minnesota, March 1, 1990
On March 1, 1990 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Beech B36TC, registered N3077G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inver Grove Hgt, Minnesota (South St Paul Muni airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PREMATURE LIFT-OFF BY THE PILOT, WHILE TAKING OFF WITH A HEAVY GROSS WEIGHT IN UNFAVORABLE WINDS, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN/MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1990 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Inver Grove Hgt, Minnesota · South St Paul Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B36TC · all B36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3077G · no longer on the register · serial EA-383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TEMPORARY FUEL SYS TO FERRY IT TO SOUTH AFRICA. ALSO, IT WAS APPROVED FOR SPECIAL FLT OPNS & A MAXIMUM GROSS WT LIMITATION OF 4235 LBS. ITS ACTUAL WEIGHT FOR TAKEOFF WAS CALCULATED TO BE 3956 LBS. THE PLT TOOK OFF ON RWY 16 FOR THE INITIAL FLT WITH THE WIND FROM ABOUT 240 DEG AT 17 KTS. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING JUST ABOVE THE TREES IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE. THE PLT TURNED THE ACFT ABOUT 90 DEG TO THE LEFT TOWARD A RIVER (DOWN SLOPE). HE THEN TURNED IT FURTHER LEFT & ALIGNED ITS FLT PATH WITH THE RIVER. HOWEVER, THE ACFT HIT A POLE ON A BOAT DOCK & CRASHED IN THE RIVER. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. ONE WITNESS, WHO SAW THE ACFT AFTER TAKEOFF, SAID IT WAS MUSHING AS THE LNDG GEAR WAS BEING RETRACTED, THEN THE PLT 'MADE A STEEP BANK TO THE LEFT & WENT BELOW THE TREES.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,073 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 919 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,235 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D97 South St Paul MN at 7:50 am
- Destination: South Africa
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MSP, 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.