# NTSB MKC79FA030: Cessna 172M, N1390U, Grand Marais, MN, May 22, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 22, 1979
- Place: Grand Marais, MN · GRAND MARAIS, MN
- Location: 47.7586° N, 90.3443° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Marais, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7586&lon=-90.3443&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC79FA030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FA030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2480  79/5/22    GRAND MARAIS,MN     CESSNA 172M         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 200
        TIME - 1600                    N1390U              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DEVIL'S TRACK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ARMSTRONG,ONTARIO           GRAND MARAIS,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       39
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT ESTIMATED CEILING AT ACCD SITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1390U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1390U-1980-01-16), registration cancelled 1980-01-16, S/N 17267061, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Devil'S Track

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790522021389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790522021389A), May 22, 1979: Cessna 172M, Grand Marais, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR pilot flew into area of low clouds and low visibility. Hit trees attempting to reverse course.

## Other investigations on N1390U (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 MKC78FER02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FER02), Oct 16, 1977: Cessna 172 (N1390U), Afton, MN, substantial damage

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.

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