Cessna 182S accident near Hatton, North Dakota, May 6, 2003
On May 6, 2003 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182S, registered N182ND, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hatton, North Dakota (South Golden Lake airport). It was an instructional 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
Failure by the flight instructor to maintain clearance to the tree. Contributing factors were the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor and the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2003 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hatton, North Dakota · South Golden Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182S · all 182Ss on the register
- Registration
- N182ND · no longer on the register · serial 18280094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was substantially damaged when it collided with the shore and a tree during a practice step taxi. The instructional flight was conducted for training in preparation for a single engine sea airplane rating. The dual student held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. The flight instructor stated that the dual student initiated a step taxi across the lake. The intention was for the student to enter a step turn as they approached the opposite shore line. The instructor reported that the dual student initiated the turn with aileron input only, no rudder input. The instructor reported that he directed the student three times to apply rudder input for the turn. After the third request, the instructor stated he took control of the aircraft. The instructor recalled thinking the aircraft would not be able to complete the turn prior to the shore and increasing the rate of turn would risk capsizing the aircraft. He stated that he chopped the power and applied right rudder in an attempt to impact perpendicular to the shoreline. This was unsuccessful and the aircraft hit the shore at an angle. The right wing caught a tree which impacted 2 to 3 feet inboard of the tip. The instructor stated that there were no problems with the aircraft or engine prior to 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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,434 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 12,375 as pilot in command; 9,697 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 25, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 2002; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Departed from: GFK Grand Forks ND at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 3,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from GFK, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.