Cessna 182H accident near Plymouth, Michigan, September 3, 1994
On September 3, 1994 at about 12:43 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N8470S, was destroyed in an accident near Plymouth, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR ICE, AND IMPROPER USE OF (OR FAILURE TO USE) THE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING (WEATHER) CONDITIONS, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1994 · about 12:43 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8470S · no longer on the register · serial 18256570
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL/PILOT RATED PASSENGER SAID THE TAKEOFF WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF A FEW HUNDRED FEET. HE STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A BACKFIRE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING APPROACH WAS MADE TO A SMALL FIELD LOCATED IN A CONGESTED INDUSTRIAL PARK. DURING THE APPROACH, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE. THE AIRPLANE THEN YAWED, THE LEFT WING DROPPED, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 53 AND 52 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION.
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: 680 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SJX St James MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from YIP, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.