Cessna 182P accident near Cornell, Wisconsin, June 30, 1990
On June 30, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N41RP, was destroyed in an accident near Cornell, Wisconsin (Cornell Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cornell, Wisconsin · Cornell Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N41RP · registry record · serial 18261389
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL. THERE WAS NO SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR FORCED LANDING, SO PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO FIELD AND IMPACTED IN SOFT, MARSHY AREA ADJACENT TO DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS, CARBURETOR BOWL, AND GASCOLATOR WERE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CGX Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,540 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from EAU, 23 miles away
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.