Cessna 182Q accident near Bowstring, Minnesota, November 13, 2015
On November 13, 2015 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 182Q, registered N717AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bowstring, Minnesota (Bowstring airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack during takeoff which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with a wind sock and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2015 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bowstring, Minnesota · Bowstring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q Q, built 1976 · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N717AT · no longer on the register · serial 18265189
- 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 while taking off with 20 degrees of flaps from a grass airstrip, the airplane rotated about 50 knots and climbed to an altitude of about 80 feet above the ground. The pilot reported that the airplane "seemed" not to be "making" enough power to continue to climb. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and land directly ahead on what remained of the landing strip. While landing the airplane impacted a wind sock located about 140 feet to the left of centerline and about 500 feet short of the departure end of the runway on the left edge of the landing strip, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. In a telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-in-charge (IIC) the pilot stated that the stall warning horn was audible during the initial climb.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 39 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 30, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,491 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 19, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 3,491 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9Y0 Bowstring MN at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 9Y0 Bowstring MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,531 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:33 pm from KFOZ, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.