Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Minnesota News
MPR News Staff

'No response': Report sheds light on fatal Hermantown, Minn. plane crash

A house with a hole in its roof from a plane crash
Three people died when a small plane crashed into a home on Arrowhead Road in Hermantown, Minn. on Oct. 1, 2022. A preliminary NTSB report found the tower lost contact with the plane shortly after takeoff.
John Myers | Duluth News Tribune

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Updated: 2:21 p.m.

The National Transportation Safety Board says the control tower in Duluth lost contact with a pilot shortly before a plane crash in Hermantown, Minn. that killed three people earlier this month.

Skies were overcast at 11:12 p.m. on Oct. 1 when the Cessna 172S took off from Duluth. The pilot and two passengers had attended a wedding in the area. They were heading back to South St. Paul Municipal Airport when the small plane crashed into a home, narrowly missing the people inside.

The report found that a departure frequency issued by the control tower was read back incorrectly by the pilot and not corrected by the air traffic controller.

Shortly after takeoff, the plane made a turn and then began a descent. The tower in Duluth tried to reach the pilot, 32-year-old Tyler Fretland of Burnsville. After not responding on the departure frequency, he responded to controllers on a tower frequency.

“Several seconds later, while the airplane continued to descend in a left turn with increasing ground speed, the controller informed the pilot that he observed the airplane descending and asked him to confirm that he was climbing. There was no response and no further communication from the pilot,” according to the report.

The plane crashed into the home at 11:17 p.m., just five minutes after it took off. There was no sign of a fire in the wreckage, but first responders reported the strong smell of fuel during their recovery efforts.

The crash also killed 31-year-old Alyssa Schmidt, a second-grade teacher from St. Paul, and her brother, 32-year-old Matthew Schmidt of Burnsville.

It is not clear at this point what contributed to the crash.

A final report from the NTSB is expected in about a year.