Amateur-built CASSUT III M accident near Randall, Minnesota, September 15, 1985
On September 15, 1985 at about 4:35 pm local time, a amateur-built CASSUT III M, registered N39684, was substantially damaged in an accident near Randall, Minnesota. It was a personal 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
- September 15, 1985 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Randall, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CASSUT III M CASSUT III
- Registration
- N39684 · no longer on the register · serial 239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER AT THE COMPLETION OF A DESCENT. THE PILOT DID NOT USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN THE DESCENT. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS APPROXIMATELY 60%.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 784 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 78 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1985; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57Y Sandstone MN at 4:05 pm
- Destination: LXL Little Falls MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from AXN, 35 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.