Cessna 182R accident near Tutwiler, Mississippi, May 28, 1989
On May 28, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N2739C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tutwiler, Mississippi. 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
LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO AN ENCOUNTER WITH A DUST DEVIL WHILE ON THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tutwiler, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N2739C · registry record · serial R18200223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER OBSERVING A LIMP WINDSOCK, THE PLT LANDED ON THE GRAVEL COVERED AG STRIP. UPON TOUCHDOWN, A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE ACFT & BEGAN DRIFTING IT OFF THE RWY. HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL BY APPLYING RT BRAKE, RUDDER & ATTEMPTED TO GO-AROUND. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NO BRAKING ACTION DUE TO THE LOOSE GRAVEL & APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT THE GEAR STRUCK A DITCH & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN AG PLT STANDING NEARBY, STATED THAT A DUST DEVEL CAUGHT THE ACFT. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED NUMEROUS DUST DEVILS IN THE AREA ALL AFTERNOON. AS THE TWO PLTS DROVE AWAY FROM THE CRASH SITE, THEY OBSERVED ANOTHER DUST DEVIL PASS OVER THE AIRSTRIP.
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: 4,030 hours in all; 997 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,635 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1989; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F26 Dallas TX
- Destination: Tutwiler MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from GWO, 38 miles away
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.