Cessna 207 accident near Golden Valley, Minnesota, May 18, 1985
On May 18, 1985 at about 11:56 am local time, a Cessna 207, registered N91043, was destroyed in an accident near Golden Valley, Minnesota. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 18, 1985 · about 11:56 am local time
- Place
- Golden Valley, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N91043 · no longer on the register · serial 20700030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, ON THE LAST LEG ON IT'S FLIGHT, THE ENGINE OF THE AIR CARGO ACFT STARTED TO SPUTTER. THE PLT TURNED THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLR FROM THE LEFT TANK TO ANOTHER POSITION & TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING & THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A PUBLIC PARK. THE LEFT WING WAS TORN OFF THE ACFT DURING THE EMERG LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN TURNED TO THE 'OFF' POSITION, A CHECK OF THE FUEL QUANTITY IN EACH TANK SHOWED LESS THAN FIVE GAL IN THE LEFT TANK & ABOUT TWELVE GAL IN THE RIGHT TANK
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 607 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,002 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSP Minneapolis MN at 11:50 am
- Destination: MIC Crystal MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am from MIC, 5 miles away
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.