Cessna 120 accident near Larchwood, Iowa, May 15, 1984
On May 15, 1984 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 120, registered N76450, was substantially damaged in an accident near Larchwood, Iowa (Zangger airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- May 15, 1984 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Larchwood, Iowa · Zangger · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N76450 · registry record · serial 0882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER AFTER BOUNCING OFF THE RWY DURING LANDING. THE PLT SAID HE LANDED LONG AND FAST AND WAS FEELING APPREHENSIVE; WHEN THE ACFT BOUNCED HE RELEASED BACK PRESSURE ON THE STICK WHICH CAUSED A GREATER BOUNCE AND AN EXCURSION OFF THE RWY. THE PLT USED BRAKES AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT RECOMMENDS DUAL TRAINING FOR INEXPERIENCED PLTS WHO HAD LITTLE RECENT FLYING EXPERIENCE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 109 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 39 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YOO Larchwood IA at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,309 ft by 23 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from FSD, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.