- Date
- July 14, 2006, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Laporte, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3089NCessna 120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20060714015079A
- Case key
- 64123
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot and the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during takeoff. A contributing factor was the runway marker.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane received substantial damage following a loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip. The airplane then impacted a runway marker and nosed over during a forced landing. Inspection of the airplane revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tanks. No anomalies associated with the loss of engine power were reported.
Factual narrative
On July 14, 2006, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 120, N3089N, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage on impact with a runway marker and terrain following takeoff from runway 7 (2,400 feet by 80 feet, turf) at Robco Airport, Laporte, Minnesota. The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during initial climb. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was uninjured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Walker Municipal Airport, Walker, Minnesota.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane engine experienced a total loss of engine power about 10 feet above ground level. The airplane then impacted a runway sign and nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tanks. No anomalies associated with the loss of engine power were reported.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report was sent to the pilot via certified mail. A Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report was not received from the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3089N
- Reported as
- Cessna 120
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13347
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Departed
- MN12 · Laporte, MN
- Destination
- Y49 · Walker, MN
- Airport
- MN12 · Robco Airport, runway 7, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 320 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- BJI, 20 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3089N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.