Cessna 182N accident near Caputa, South Dakota, March 22, 1990
On March 22, 1990 at about 4:22 pm local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N92292, was destroyed in an accident near Caputa, South Dakota (Rapid City Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, ACCUMULATION OF STRUCTURAL ICE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE ADVERRSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1990 · about 4:22 pm local time
- Place
- Caputa, South Dakota · Rapid City Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N92292 · no longer on the register · serial 18260133
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING THREE PASSENGERS TO RAPID CITY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP INTERVIEW. HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE & AGAIN EN ROUTE, BOTH TIMES RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHT TO MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS AT HIS DESTINATION. THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS IN ICING CONDITIONS AS HE TURNED TO INTERCEPT THE ILS LOCALIZER. HE THEN RADIOED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN A 'A SPIN AND A DIVE.' AN ON-SCENE EXAM REVEALED NUMEROUS LARGE PIECES OF CONTOURED ICE THAT MATCHED THE ROUNDED PORTION OF THE WING LEADING EDGE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO
- Destination: RAP Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 8,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:26 pm from RAP, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.