Cessna 182Q accident near Bryant, South Dakota, November 25, 1982
On November 25, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N94657, was destroyed in an accident near Bryant, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bryant, South Dakota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N94657 · registry record · serial 18266477
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN, FLAT, STUBBLE FIELD JUST SOUTH OF BRYANT SD. THE ANGLE OF IMPACT WAS 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN, WITH WINGS LEVEL. FIRE AFTER IMPACT CONSUMED MOST OF THE WRECKAGE AND THE 5 OCCUPANTS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THEWEATHER WAS IFR WITH LOW CEILINGS AND THE NIGHT WAS GETTING DARK EARLIER THAN USUAL. WITNESSES HAD OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFTFLYING VERY LOW AND ALMOST COLLIDING WITH HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS WATER TANKS. ON HIS LAST PULL-UP OVER THE TOWN THE PILOT APPARENTLY CLIMBED INTO THE CLOUDS. LOST CONTROL IN A STALL AND CAME DOWN AT A STEEP ANGLE. HE WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THIS FLIGHT. IRONICALLY THE FIELD HE CRASHED IN WOULD HAVE MADE A GOOD PLACEFOR A LANDING IF HE HAD STAYED IN CONTROL AND COULD HAVE SEEN IT. THE CEILING WAS 700 FEET VISIBILITY 5 MILES.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,475 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Mitchell SD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Milbank SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from ATY, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.