Cessna 182N accident near Ludington, Michigan, March 26, 1993
On March 26, 1993 at about 6:30 am local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N8945G, was destroyed in an accident near Ludington, Michigan (Ludington-Mason County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper instrument procedures. Related factors are the below approach minima weather conditions, fog and dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1993 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Ludington, Michigan · Ludington-Mason County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N8945G · no longer on the register · serial 18260485
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE RECALLS MAKING ONE INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. ATC AND RADAR DATA INDICATE THE PILOT PERFORMED TWO NDB (NONPRECISION) APPROACHES TO RUNWAY 25 AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA ON THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE AIRPORT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0130 HOURS EASTERN STANDARD TIME. THE AIRPORT MANAGER'S WEATHER OBSERVATION WAS INDEFINITE CEILING, SKY OBSCURED, 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY IN FOG, WITH WINDS OUT OF THE WEST AT FIVE KNOTS. WHEN HE MISSED THE FIRST APPROACH, THE PILOT TOLD ATC HE '...DID GET THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT BUT COULDN'T LAND... .' THE PILOT MET FAA REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTRUMENT CURRENCY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 710 hours in all; 580 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,237 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1992; 186 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FNT Flint MI at 5:03 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.