Cessna 182D accident near Walker, Michigan, November 11, 1990
On November 11, 1990 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182D, registered N9075X, was destroyed in an accident near Walker, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, INDUCTION AIR FILTER ICING, EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1990 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Walker, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182D · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N9075X · no longer on the register · serial 18253475
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT DEPARTED ON LOCAL FLIGHT WITHOUT OBTAINING PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING. WHEN THE PILOT, WHO WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO HIS POINT OF DEPARTURE HE FLEW INTO A LINE OF SNOW SHOWERS WHICH HAD MOVED IN OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN. PILOT CONTACTED ATC WHO PROVIDED RADAR SERVICE AND VECTORS TO VMC CONDITIONS FOR 30 MINUTES. PILOT COULD NOT HOLD HEADING LONG ENOUGH TO FLY OUT OF SNOW SHOWER. AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN DENSELY WOODED AREA. WITNESSES REPORT HEARING AIRCRAFT ENGINE RUNNING ERRATICALLY. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE INDUCTION AIR FILTER FROZEN AND ICE COVERED.
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: 80 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 873 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1990; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3GM Grand Haven MI at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 20 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:40 pm from GRR, 13 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.