Casualties unknown

1983-06-22: Beech C24R (N6718M) — Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud, MN, US

On June 22, 1983, a Beech C24R (registration N6718M) was involved in an aviation accident near Saint Cloud, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine lost power for an undetermined reason during the turn before landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft door opened shortly after takeoff, causing the pilot to return for landing. During the approach, the engine lost power unexpectedly, leading to a crash with no identified mechanical cause.

What happened

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced an unexpected issue when the cabin door came open. Attempting to rectify the situation, the pilot tried to close the door but was unable to do so while in flight. Consequently, the decision was made to turn back toward the airport for an emergency landing. While executing a turn prior to landing, the engine suddenly lost power. Shortly after this loss of power, the aircraft began falling to the right and crashed.

The investigation

An investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the engine failure. However, investigators found no mechanical reason for the loss of power. It was noted that the passenger reported the door had come open on a previous flight approximately two weeks earlier, suggesting a potential recurring issue with the door latch or mechanism.

Findings

The primary finding was the unexplained loss of engine power during the approach phase. The prior occurrence of the door opening suggests a possible mechanical defect that may have contributed to the incident, although no direct link to the engine failure was established.

Probable cause

The engine lost power for an undetermined reason during the turn before landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X43274. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.