Cessna 150 accident near Two Harbors, Minnesota, April 17, 1990
On April 17, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N4020J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Two Harbors, Minnesota (Two Harbors airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Two Harbors, Minnesota · Two Harbors · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N4020J · registry record · serial 150665320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 500 AGL, THE PVT PILOT SAID THAT HE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. AN ATTEMPT TO LAND DOWNWIND ON THE RNWY, JUST DEPARTED, WAS CONSIDERED, BUT THE PLT FELT HE HAD EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE, SO HE FLEW DOWN WIND FOR LANDING ON THE DEPARTURE END. ON FINAL APPROACH, AND LEVELING OFF FOR TOUCH DOWN, THE ACFT SUDDENLY PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN, SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT SKIDDED ABOUT 50 YARDS, NOSE DOWN BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE AIRPORTS PROXIMITY TO THE LAKE, THE TIME OF DAY, AND METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 2,434 hours in all; 54 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,017 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 1990; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 62Y Two Harbors MN at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,301 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.