Cessna 182E accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan, July 22, 1988
On July 22, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182E, registered N2859Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Springs, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N2859Y · registry record · serial 18253859
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. ON ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A STUMP AND THEN A SMALL SHED. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED LOOSEFUEL CAPS AND NO FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FUEL SIPHONING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED FUEL JUST BEFORE FLIGHT AND DID NOT CHECK THE CAPS FOR SECURITY.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI88LA171.