An amateur-built aircraft accident near Red Wing, Minnesota, November 16, 1982
On November 16, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a an amateur-built aircraft, registered N69HD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Wing, Minnesota. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Red Wing, Minnesota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- An amateur-built aircraft
- Registration
- N69HD · no longer on the register · serial 3352246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN THE NEW HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT. HE HAD NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND HAD NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT WITH CANARD AIRFOILS. HE STATED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DAMPEN OUT THE OSCILLATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING HIGH LINES AND WAS NEAR THE STALL SPEED, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO REDUCE THE POWER, FLY UNDER THE LINES AND LAND IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN WHEEL HIT A 1 FT MOUND OF DIRT AND BROKE THE LEFT CANARD NEAR THE FUSELAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE COWLING WERE DAMAGED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 221 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Onan 22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D31 Red Wing MN at 11:29 am
- Destination: D31 Red Wing MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.