Cessna 180 accident near Duluth, Minnesota, March 29, 1982
On March 29, 1982 at about 7:28 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N4649B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota (Duluth Intl Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1982 · about 7:28 pm local time
- Place
- Duluth, Minnesota · Duluth Intl Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N4649B · registry record · serial 2500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON RUNWAY09 WHILE PREPARING FOR A FLIGHT CHECK. AFTER LANDING, HE PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE COWL FLAPS AND PUSH IN THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL. HE STATED THAT AT THAT TIME, HE LET THE AILERONS GO TO A NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE WIND PICKED UP HIS RIGHT WING. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND BLEW THE PLANE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE THE LEFT WING CAUGHT A RUNWAY "MARKER BEACON" AND SPUN AROUND. THE PLANE STRUCK A SNOWBANK AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 20 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: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,845 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUW Superior WI at 1:10 pm
- Destination: Weatherford OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 10,152 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:29 pm from DLH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.