- Date
- June 6, 1992, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Elk River, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N76028Cessna 120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 9, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920606018489A
- Case key
- 15457
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 pilot's improper preflight inspection.
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
Twenty minutes after takeoff, the pilot experienced engine power loss. He switched from the right fuel tank to left, back to right, then left again while maneuvering for a forced landing. Power was not regained. The right tank and fuel strainer bowl contained no fuel after the accident. The left tank contained about 5 gallons.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N76028
- Reported as
- Cessna 120
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10422
- Airframe hours
- 2,510
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thompson, Bruce D.
- Registered owner
- Thompson, Bruce D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1991 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- ANE · Blaine, MN
- Destination
- ANE
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 367 total · 76 in this make and model · 321 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIC, 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 N76028 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.