Cessna 182A accident near Tecumseh, Michigan, July 2, 1989
On July 2, 1989 at about 5:49 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3939D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tecumseh, Michigan (Al Meyers airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. THE EMBANKMENT (DIRT BANK) WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1989 · about 5:49 pm local time
- Place
- Tecumseh, Michigan · Al Meyers · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3939D · registry record · serial 43639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU AN ESTD ALT OF 685 FT AFTER TAKEOFF. HE STATED HE FOLLOWED THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST (INCLUDING THE USE OF CARB HEAT), BUT THE ENG WOULD NOT RESTART. DRG AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT HIT AN EMBANKMENT & NOSED OVER. FERROUS & NON-FERROUS METALLIC MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THE ENG OIL SCREEN, BUT A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 83 & 69 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CARB ICING WAS POSSIBLE AT GLIDE POWER, BUT ICING WOULD NOT HAVE ACCUMULATED AT RATED POWER. THE PLT NOTED THAT BEFORE THE FLT, HE DRAINED FUEL FROM EACH OF THE SUMPS, USING A SUMP DRAIN INSPN CUP, UNTIL HE WAS SATISFIED THERE WAS NO WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINATES VISIBLE IN THE FUEL SAMPLES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 351 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TE at 5:45 pm
- Destination: 3TE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,680 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from DTW, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.