Grand Rapids Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
Tuesady, February 28, 1989 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE PRACTICING TAKE-OFFS AND LDGS, THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT PRIOR TO TOUCH-DOWN DURING THE LANDING FLARE, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A SNOW BANK, THEN OVERTURNED. A 60 DEGREE CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 10 KNOTS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GRAND RAPIDS
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55744
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND RAPIDS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GPZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1325
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1300
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID GPZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1325
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 69
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38265
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6418D
NTSB Number MKC89LA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17272793
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 8 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 4606
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MESABA AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2002 AIRPORT RD
Aircraft Owner City GRAND RAPIDS
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55744
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GPZ
Departure City GRAND RAPIDS
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 5740
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --