Cessna 340 accident near Blue Earth, Minnesota, October 16, 1984
On October 16, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 340, registered N5422M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blue Earth, Minnesota (Fairmont airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 16, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Blue Earth, Minnesota · Fairmont · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N5422M · no longer on the register · serial 340-031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A VOR/DME APCH TO RWY 31. AS HE CONTINUED, HE INTERCEPTED A 12 MI ARC. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED POWER TO LEVEL OFF AT 2800 FT MSL & NO POWER WAS AVAILABLE. HE MOVED THE MIXTURES TO FULL RICH, POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTORS TO THE MAIN TANKS, TURNED ON THE FUEL PUMPS & CHECKED THE MAGNETO SWITCHES, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. THE PLT THEN TURNED INTO THE WIND & ADVISED THE PASSENGERS TO PREPARE FOR A HARD LANDING. WHEN THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS, THE PLT SAW A CORN FIELD AHEAD & LANDED. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE CORN & THE GEAR COLLAPSED ON WET TERRAIN. VIRTUALLY NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AUX TANKS. THE MAIN TANKS WERE APRX 1/3 TO 2/3 FULL. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. BOTH ENGS WERE FUNCTIONALLY CHECKED & OPERATED NORMALLY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 37,712 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 147 in the last 90 days; 37,612 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,975 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRB Green Bay WI at 8:32 pm
- Destination: FRM Fairmont MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 360° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.