Piper PA 18-150 accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota, March 21, 1985
On March 21, 1985 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA 18-150, registered N2582S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota (Grand Forks airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 21, 1985 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota · Grand Forks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2582S · registry record · serial 18-7909161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON MARCH 21, 1985, A PIPER PA 18 GROUND LOOPED ON LANDING ROLLOUT AT GRAN FORKS, ND. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN HE WAS CHECKING OUT ANOTHER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT THE AIRPLANE 'GOTAWAY' FROM THE STUDENT INSTRUCTOR IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND BENT THE LEFT WING SPAR.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,291 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 3,015 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,561 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 15, 1985; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.