Cessna 182P accident near Baudette, Minnesota, January 11, 2004
On January 11, 2004, a Cessna 182P, registered N5787J, was destroyed in an accident near Baudette, Minnesota (Baudette Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, low ceiling, low altitude, and the dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 2004
- Place
- Baudette, Minnesota · Baudette Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5787J · no longer on the register · serial 18263535
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain in an uninhabited, wooded area, 7-1/2 miles from the departure airport. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The non-instrument rated pilot had flown from the his home airport about 0600 that morning. He and a passenger then spent the day at a local resort and were attempting to return home when the accident occurred. An individual who was plowing snow at the departure airport reported that he saw the accident aircraft taxi out and take off about 1835. He noted that is was completely dark at the time and the aircraft disappeared from sight before it reached the departure end of the runway on climbout. An owner of a local resort reported that she gave the pilot and passenger a ride to the airport that evening. She reported that during the drive, the pilot had commented that his passenger needed to get home. She also recalled some conversation about the weather and that the pilot commented that the decision to fly was his alone. A witness located approximately 3-1/2 miles from the departure airport reported seeing the aircraft. He stated that it appeared to be in a controlled right-hand turn from a southwest heading; turning toward the west. He noted that the nose of the aircraft was lit up, which believed was the plane's landing light. An Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at the departure airport reported overcast ceilings at 800 feet above ground level (agl) at the time of the accident. An AIRMET for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions was in effect for the route of flight at the time of the accident. It specifically warned of the possibility for ceilings below 1,000 feet agl and visibilities of less than 3 statute miles in mist and fog. Sunset was at 1643 and civil twilight ended at 1719. The pilot obtained a pre-flight weather briefing prior to the morning flight from the aircraft's home base. This was approximately 16-1/2 hours prior to the accident flight. There was no other record of contact with the accident pilot or aircraft. Toxicology testing revealed the presence of citalopram (a prescription antidepressant also known by the trade name Celexa) at a level consistent with routine use of the medication.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2003; 186 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDE Baudette MN
- Destination: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N5787J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.