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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1988 · about 12:47 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Raeford, North Carolina · Raeford Municipal · cases near this airport · 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5678B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 182 Skylane 11,834 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470-L 19 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- P K Airpark · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,762 since 1982 · 305 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,120 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL88LA169.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.