Cessna C-182 accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan, October 19, 2007
On October 19, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna C-182, registered N1431S, was destroyed in an accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 takeoff with strong, gusty winds and his inability to stop the airplane prior to it traveling off the end of the runway during the delayed aborted takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the wet, grass airstrip and gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Springs, Michigan · Private
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-182
- Registration
- N1431S · no longer on the register · serial 18264979
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with trees during an aborted landing on a private airstrip. The pilot reported that during initial climb out after liftoff, a wind shear caused a loss of lift and takeoff was aborted. Due to the wet grass runway, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft and it impacted trees at the far end of the runway. The takeoff was on runway 27 ( 2,500 long) and the pilot reported winds were from 220 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 495 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,357 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MI73 Cedar Springs MI at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 804 Sparta MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.30 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.