Cessna 182 accident near Rochester, Minnesota, July 29, 1983
On July 29, 1983 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N4985D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester, Minnesota. 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 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
- July 29, 1983 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Rochester, Minnesota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N4985D · no longer on the register · serial 51085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD AT DUSK, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER STRUCK A WIRE. APRX 16 INCHES WAS CUT OFF THE TOP OF THE STABILIZER & THE RUDDER WAS TORN LOOSE FROM THE HINGES. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL (REPORTEDLY ABOUT 4 GAL) WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS. ACCORDING TO THE, FLT MANUAL, 1.5 GAL OF FUEL IN EACH FUEL TANK IS UNUSABLE IN LEVEL FLIGHT. IN OTHER THAN LEVEL FLIGHT, UP TO 5 GAL IN EACH TANK IS UNUSABLE. NO OTHER PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
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: 775 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 775 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 3,112 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TE Tecumseh MI at 11:45 pm
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N4985D 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.