Cessna 182B accident near Philip, South Dakota, September 2, 1989
On September 2, 1989 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N2685G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philip, South Dakota (Philip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE POWER LINE & POLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1989 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Philip, South Dakota · Philip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2685G · no longer on the register · serial 51985
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 30 (4000 X 75T RWY) WITH A STRONG LEFT CROSSWIND. HE SAID THAT AS HE WAS LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN GUST & HE DECIDED TO GO AROUND. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A POWER LINE AND POLE, THEN CRASHED. THE AIRPORT OPERATOR REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 30 KTS. DURING A WEATHER OBSERVATION AT 1245 MDT, THE WIND WAS FROM 160 DEG AT 18 GUSTING 25 KTS.
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
- Flight time: 743 hours in all; 627 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 690 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,172 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1989; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 5:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Murdo SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from PHP
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.