Cessna 182 accident near Lima, Ohio, September 4, 1987
On September 4, 1987 at about 5:30 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N71536, was destroyed in an accident near Lima, Ohio. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 4, 1987 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Lima, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N71536 · no longer on the register · serial 18259655
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT FLT FROM TOLEDO TO CINCINNATI, OH, THE ACFT CRASHED ALONG THE ROUTE AT LIMA, OH, AFTER SVRL LOCAL RESIDENTS HEARD AN ACFT CIRCLING. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH THE TOP OF A DIKE AFTER THE ACFT CROSSED OVER A RESERVOIR. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 600' AREA. DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE, THE ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE, TREE STUMP & A STEEL BUILDING BEFORE IT CAME TO REST. AN INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACFT PROBLEM. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.169%.
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: 12,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,194 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1987; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Toledo OH
- Destination: Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 am from FDY
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.