Cessna T182 accident near Carefree, Arizona, May 16, 1987
On May 16, 1987 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Cessna T182, registered N9545H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carefree, Arizona (Carefree airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 16, 1987 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · Carefree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182 · all T182s on the register
- Registration
- N9545H · no longer on the register · serial 18267950
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT WAS APPROACHING THE ARPT FOR LANDING ON RWY 6 AND NOTICED LIGHT TURBULENCE. ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO LAND THE PLT WENT AROUND. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT. APRX 100 FT DOWN THE RWY THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AND DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER WITH NO RESPONSE. THE ACFT EXITED THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A WALL. THE UNICOM REPORTED WINDS FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 5-8 MPH. A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION 13 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST REPORTED WINDS FROM 130 DEG AT 22 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 37 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: 404 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 343 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,741 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 11, 1987; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O04 Carson City NV at 6:00 pm
- Destination: E18 Carefree AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 4,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 22 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from DVT, 13 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.
Other NTSB records under N9545H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.