Cessna 182J accident near Gaylord, Michigan, January 21, 1997
On January 21, 1997 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3128F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gaylord, Michigan (Gaylord Otsego County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a failure to maintain proper runway alignment. Factors associated with the accident were: the gusty, crosswind condition, the pilot's failure to perform a go-around, and the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1997 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gaylord, Michigan · Gaylord Otsego County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3128F · registry record · serial 182-57228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, who was on a solo cross country flight, stated that smoke from smoke stacks south of the airport indicated that the winds were out of the east. He stated that on final approach to runway 9 he realized he had a 'good crosswind' as it was difficult for him to maintain runway alignment. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane contacted a snowbank along the left side of the runway. The pilot reported local winds were from 120 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 28 knots.
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: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,080 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1996; 282 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PZQ Rogers City MI at 2:25 pm
- Destination: GLR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from PLN, 37 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.