Cessna 320B accident near Glen Canyon, Utah, October 27, 1984
On October 27, 1984 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 320B, registered N9842L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glen Canyon, Utah (Bullfrog Basin airport). It was a personal 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
- October 27, 1984 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Glen Canyon, Utah · Bullfrog Basin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320B · all 320Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9842L · no longer on the register · serial 320B0042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON TAKEOFF ROLL, PLT NOTED 5 INCH DIFFERENCE IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE BETWEEN THE ENGS. ACFT BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. PLT APPLIED CORRECTIVE DIFFERENCE POWER, RUDDER AND AILERON TO CORRECT DRIFT, BUT STATED A GUST OF WIND CAUSED FURTHER RIGHT DRIFT. RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DEPARTED THE RWY SURFACE INTO SOFT SAND, CAUSING INCREASED PULL TO THE RIGHT DESPITE PLT'S EFFORTS. PLT INITIATED ABORT AND APPLIED BRAKES, BUT ACFT SWERVED OFF RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,339 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3,530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PGA Page AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.