Cessna 182K accident near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, September 11, 1988
On September 11, 1988 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N2616R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota (Detriot Lakes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 11, 1988 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Detroit Lakes, Minnesota · Detriot Lakes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2616R · no longer on the register · serial 8258316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT, AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 200' AGL, THE POWERPLANT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN AN PLOWED FIELD, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT 'THE NO. 1 PISTON HAD BROKEN UP THEN WAS NEARLY PULVERIZED BY INTERNAL IMPACTS.' THE REMAINING PISTONS WERE INTACT. DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION REVEALED FRACTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASTING SPLIT LINE IN THE NO. 2 PISTON 'IDENTICAL TO THE FRACTURE LOCATION OF NO. 1 PISTON.'
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: 199 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 143 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,012 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1988; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTL Detroit Lakes MN at 12:29 pm
- Destination: HIB Hibbing MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from FAR, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.