Cessna 182P accident near Northport, Michigan, May 20, 2026
On May 20, 2026 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 182P, registered N86289, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Northport, Michigan (North Fox Island 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 pilot's decision to resume taxiing on a turf runway that was unable to adequately support the airplane's weight, which resulted in the nose landing gear sinking into the soft ground and the propeller striking the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2026 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Northport, Michigan · North Fox Island Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P, built 1973 · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N86289 · registry record · serial 18261923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted an aerial inspection of the grass runway before landing and observed no indications that the surface was unsuitable for operations. The landing was uneventful; however, during a subsequent turn to back taxi, the right main landing gear became stuck in soft terrain. After freeing the airplane, the pilot elected to use a soft-field takeoff technique to taxi the airplane to a drier portion of the runway. During this attempt, the nosewheel encountered another area of soft terrain, sank into the ground, and the propeller struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing › Taxiing › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 526 hours in all; 526 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 526 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 23, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 2025; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470R74B (piston); 375 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MBL Manistee MI at 6:11 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KSJX, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSJX 201955Z AUTO 33007KT 310V010 10SM CLR 10/M00 A3031 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N86289 with substantial damage to the fuselage
Photograph 2 – Substantial damage to firewallThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Sketch of Accident Location | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N86289 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 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470R74B 12,780 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- North Fox Island Airport · nearest airport
- Manistee County/Blacker · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,224 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA216.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.