Cessna 182 accident near Raeford, North Carolina, May 10, 1988
On May 10, 1988 at about 12:47 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5678B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raeford, North Carolina (Raeford Municipal airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people 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
- May 10, 1988 · about 12:47 pm local time
- Place
- Raeford, North Carolina · Raeford Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5678B · registry record · serial 33678
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 100-200 FT AGL. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE BACKFIRE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE IGNITION HARNESSES AND SEVERAL SPARK PLUGS WERE IN POOR CONDITION: SEVERAL IGNITION LEADS WERE DETERIORATED; 3/4 OF ALL LEADS WERE IMPROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE MAGNETOS. THE SPARK PLUGS FIRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BROKE DOWN UNDER PRESSURE, WHEN OPERATIONALLY TESTED. OTHER EVIDENCE OF POOR MAINTENANCE WAS ALSO FOUND, INCLUDING WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE CARB BOWL AND A DETERIORATED CARB ACCELERATOR PUMP. THE AIRPLANE UNDERWENT A 100 HR INSPECTION 4 MONTHS/128 FLT HRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 824 hours in all; 403 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,590 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 27, 1988; 129 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:47 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.