Cessna TR182 accident near Tappen, North Dakota, February 3, 1984
On February 3, 1984, a Cessna TR182, registered N737QE, was destroyed in an accident near Tappen, North Dakota. 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
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
- February 3, 1984
- Place
- Tappen, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N737QE · no longer on the register · serial 18200872
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FLIGHT. DURING THE LAST BRIEFING AT 1350 MST, HE WAS INFORMED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AT 1554 MST, THE ACFT DEPARTED CRYSTAL ARPT IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. SEVERAL WITNESSES TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY STATED THAT THEY SAW A FLASHING LIGHT FROM A SMALL AIRPLANE WHICH WAS FLYING LOW & APPEARED TO BE FOLLOWING THE HIGHWAY. THEY REPORTED THAT THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WHEN THEY FIRST SIGHTED THE ACFT. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER IT WENT OUT OF VIEW, THEY ENCOUNTERED BLINDING SLEET SNOW. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD AFTER IT HAD TURNED RIGHT OF COURSE. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A RIGHT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE WHILE ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 015 DEG. THE DIRECTION TO THE DESTINATION WAS APRX 270 DEG. THE ACFT WAS FOUND ON 2/6/84.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 268 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1983; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3CD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIC Minneapolis MN at 10:54 pm
- Destination: DIK Dickinson ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm
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.