Cessna 182P accident near Gary, Indiana, June 19, 1986
On June 19, 1986 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N20735, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gary, Indiana (Gary Municipal 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
- June 19, 1986 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gary, Indiana · Gary Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N20735 · registry record · serial 18261165
- 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 ON A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO HIM, HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE OVER THE THRESHOLD DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED AND THE PLANE FLOATED FOR SOME DISTANCE AS HE BROUGHT THE CONTROL COLUMN BACK. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT THEN DROPPED AND THE PROP STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT MADE A GO-AROUND AND SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED SAFETY. HIS INSTRUCTOR, WHO OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT, BELIEVED THAT A THERMAL CAUSED THE PLANE TO FLOAT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, NOSE WHEEL FIRST, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, THEN THE STUDENT MADE A GO-AROUND. AFTER THE FLIGHT, AN EXAM REVEALED THE LOWER FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED. THE STUDENT RPRTD THAT THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AT 8 GUSTING 15 KTS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 264 hours in all; 264 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1985; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.