Beech S35 accident near Austin, Minnesota, August 10, 1983
On August 10, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N5732K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Minnesota (Austin airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- August 10, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Minnesota · Austin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N5732K · registry record · serial D7518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STARTED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 35 WITH A WIND FROM 300 DEG AT 19, GUSTING 25 KTS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE RIGHT DOOR POPPED OPEN & THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT INTENDED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF (TO CIRCLE, LAND & FIX THE DOOR). HOWEVER, AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO 'STRAIGHTEN OUT FOR TAKEOFF,' THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A RWY LIGHT & COLLAPSED. THE ACFT THEN SLID ACROSS THE RWY & STOPPED APRX 25 YARDS OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE DOOR.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 296 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Cedar Rapids IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 9:00 pm from RST, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.