Cessna 152 accident near Crane Lake, Minnesota, February 19, 1990
On February 19, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67366, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crane Lake, Minnesota. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Crane Lake, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67366 · no longer on the register · serial 15281783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT RPRTD THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLT ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY, THE ENGINE FAILED. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A REMOTE/SWAMPY AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #3 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. THE ENG HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 2455 HRS & 1752 HRS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 78 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command; 59 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,455 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,680 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ely Aire, INC
The flight
- Departed from: INL Intl Falls MN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ELO Ely MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:39 pm from INL, 40 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.