Beech C24R accident near Saint Cloud, Minnesota, June 22, 1983
On June 22, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Beech C24R, registered N6718M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saint Cloud, Minnesota (Saint Cloud airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 22, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Cloud, Minnesota · Saint Cloud
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6718M · no longer on the register · serial MC-720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT'S DOOR CAME OPEN. HE TRIED TO CLOSE IT, BUT WAS UNABLE, SO HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT TO LAND. WHILE MAKING A TURN BEFORE LANDING, THE ENG LOST POWER. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT STARTED FALLING TO THE RIGHT & CRASHED. AN INESTIGATION REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PASSENGER SAID THE DOOR HAD COME OPEN ON A PREVIOUS FLT, ABOUT 2 WKS EARLIER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,856 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 1,632 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 882 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1983; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from STC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.