Cessna 320B accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota, September 6, 1984
On September 6, 1984, a Cessna 320B, registered N32ORD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clear Lake, Minnesota (Leake Clear Lake airport). It was a personal flight 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
- September 6, 1984
- Place
- Clear Lake, Minnesota · Leake Clear Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320B · all 320Bs on the register
- Registration
- N32ORD · no longer on the register · serial 320B0035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING MAINT ON AN AIR VENT THE MECHANIC FAILED TO SECURE THE MAP COMPARTMENT. THE ASS'Y INTERFERED WITH THE REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL YOKE ON ROTATION FOR TAKEOFF LIMITING THE CLIMB RATE AND RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH THE TREES. THE FLT PROCEEDED TO IT'S DEST WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DURING THE LANDING FLARE AT 180 MPH THE NOSE DROPPED DESPITE FULL BACK STICK. THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ROLLING TO A STOP ON THE RWY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Y6 Clear Lake MN at 11:15 pm
- Destination: STC St. Cloud MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.