Cessna 182J accident near Rapid City, South Dakota, April 21, 1988
On April 21, 1988 at about 4:37 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N2720F, was destroyed in an accident near Rapid City, South Dakota (Rapid City Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- April 21, 1988 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- Rapid City, South Dakota · Rapid City Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N2720F · no longer on the register · serial 18256820
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM MILES CITY, MT. THE BRIEFING INDICATED WX CONDITIONS LESS THAN VFR WITH ICING CONDITIONS. THE PLT DEPARTED AND LANDED APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR LATER TO REMOVE ICE FROM HIS ACFT. THE PLT DEPARTED A SECOND TIME AND, WHILE ENROUTE, ENCOUNTERED LOWER CEILINGS & VIS. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE THE VOR/DME 14 APPROACH TO RAPID CITY. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE WITH THE WINGS ROCKING. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS, HORIZONTAL, AND VERTICAL STABILIZERS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,533 hours in all; 39 in the last 90 days; 3,305 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,927 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1987; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-LCR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDX Broadus MT at 2:55 pm
- Destination: RAP Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 8,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; scat
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:44 pm from RAP, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.