Cessna 182M accident near Pierre, South Dakota, January 11, 1990
On January 11, 1990 at about 6:04 pm local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N70844, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pierre, South Dakota (Pierre airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. AN ON GROUND ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUSTS IS CONSIDERED AN ADDITIONAL CAUSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1990 · about 6:04 pm local time
- Place
- Pierre, South Dakota · Pierre · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N70844 · no longer on the register · serial 18259389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT COMPLETED A X-COUNTRY FLIGHT AND LANDED ON RWY 31, WITH WINDS HE ESTIMATED AS 310 DEG AT 25 GUSTING TO 45 KNOTS. HE SAID THAT AS HE TURNED OFF THE RWY ONTO THE TAXIWAY, THE WIND GUSTED TO WHAT HE ESTIMATED AS 62 KNOTS. HE SAID THE WIND LIFTED THE TAIL AND NOSED THE PLANE OVER. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: 963 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 936 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 98D Onida SD at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PIR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,898 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 25 knots, gusting 62
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.