Cessna 150 accident near Brooten, Minnesota, October 19, 1989
On October 19, 1989 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N7047X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brooten, Minnesota (Brooten airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE PROPER STARTING PROCEDURES AND THE EXCESSIVE THROTTLE SETTING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1989 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Brooten, Minnesota · Brooten · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N7047X · no longer on the register · serial 15059147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HAND PROPPING HIS UNATTENDED AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT SAID HE FELT HE LEFT THE THROTTLE TOO FAR ADVANCED, AND WHEN IT STARTED, THE ACFT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. HE ATTEMPTED TO RUN AROUND TO THE CABIN DOOR TO GAIN CONTROL, BUT WAS INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE ACFT CONTINUED ON AND STRUCK A AIRPORT FENCE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 538 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 425 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1988; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE Renville MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from AXN, 25 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.