# Accident 20030316003239A: Cessna 172N, Foley, MN, March 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2003, 16:00 local time
- Place: Foley, MN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.6228° N, 93.9075° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6228&lon=-93.9075&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5315D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5315D-2005-06-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 83 total, 83 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA086) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030316003239A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) N5315D DEPARTED SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN (KSUW) FOR SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA (KSTC) AT 1457 LOCAL TIME ON A VFR PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE PILOT RECEIVED A FSS WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO FLIGHT, AND WAS INFORMED THAT "VFR FLIGHT IS NOT RECOMMENDED" DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE WEST. THE PILOT ACTIVATED HIS VFR FLIGHT PLAN AT 1459 LOCAL TIME AND CONTINUED TOWARDS HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE FLIGHT PLAN ACTIVATION, THE FSS BRIEFER INFORMED THE PILOT OF N5315D OF AN AIRMET FOR IFR CONDITIONS AT HIS DESTINATION. WITNESSES INFORMED FAA THAT N5315D CIRCLED THE FIELD THAT IT CRASHED IN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN PLUNGED INTO THE FIELD, AT A HIGH SPEED WITH A HIGH POWER SETTING AT 1600 LOCAL TIME. THE WRECKAGE OF N5315D WAS SCATTERED ACROSS THE FIELD FROM WEST TO EAST, WITH EVIDENCE OF IMPACT AT A HIGH SPEED AT A HIGH POWER SETTING. THE WEATHER AT SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY TEN MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS: CEILING OF 900 FEET OVERCAST, VISIBILITY OF SIX STATUTE MILES IN MIST, AND THE TEMPERATURE/DEWPOINT WAS 08/07 DEGREES CELSIUS, RESPECTIVELY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI03FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA086), Mar 16, 2003: Cessna 172N (N5315D), Foley, MN, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to spatial disorientation and subsequent impact with the ground. Contributing factors was the pilot's lack of…

## Other reports on N5315D (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19990329003399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990329003399I), Mar 29, 1999: Cessna 172N (N5315D), Superior, WI, Minor damage. Acft struck a deer with the nose gear on landing and sustained substantial damage. (-23) on 3/29/99 at approximately 1700 hours CST while commencing the…
- [Accident 19890305003269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890305003269A), Mar 5, 1989: Cessna 172N (N5315D), Superior, ID, Substantial damage. Applied brakes on landing with snow and ice patches on runway. Slid off into a snowbank.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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