Cessna 182A accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, May 18, 1988
On May 18, 1988 at about 4:07 am local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4845D, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOTS SELECTION OF AN INAPPROPRIATE CRUISE ALTITUDE WHICH DID NOT ENSURE ADEQUTE TERRAIN CLEARANCE ON THE LEG OF THE FLIGHT FROM PAGE TO GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FLIGHT SCHEDULE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WHICH MAY HAVE PRODUCED A FATIGUE CONDITON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1988 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4845D · no longer on the register · serial 34945
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TRIP ITINERARY BEGAN AT 0530 HRS ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT WITH SEVERAL STOPS PLANNED AT VARIOUS AIRPORTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, WITH A LONG STOPOVER AT PAGE. IN THE EVENING THE PILOT GOT A WX BRIEFING AND FILED A FLIGHT PLAN FOR THE RETURN LEG FROM PAGE TO TUCSON. THE PILOT GAVE HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT AS V293 AT AN ALTITUDE OF 8,500 FT MSL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON AT AN ALTITUDE OF 8,540 FT MSL. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ABOUT 2 DEGREES FROM THE CENTER LINE OF V293. A WITNESS HEARD THE AIRCRAFT APPROACH THE ACCIDENT SITE AND REPORTED STRONG ENGINE SOUNDS UNTIL IMPACT. THE WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT STROBE AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS APPROACH THE ACCIDENT SITE IN LEVEL FLIGHT THEN DISAPPEAR INTO THE TREES; AN EXPLOSION AND FIREBALL WERE SEEN IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR AND DARK WITH NO MOON. THE VFR SECTIONAL LISTS 9,200 FT MSL AS THE MINIMUM SECTOR ALTITUDE FOR THE ACCIDENT AREA.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 3,400 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 5,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 3:40 am
- Destination: Y0E Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.