Cessna 182J accident near Archie, Missouri, March 12, 1987
On March 12, 1987 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3124F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Archie, Missouri (Mcdonnell Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 12, 1987 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Archie, Missouri · Mcdonnell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3124F · registry record · serial 18257224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT, AFTER REFUELING WITH AUTO GAS AT THE PVT AIRSTRIP, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL BEING DRAINED FM THE SUMPS. AFTER ROCKING THE ACFT SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTING NO FURTHER WATER ACCUMULATION IN THE FUEL SAMPLES, THE PLT FURTHER STATED, A TAKE-OFF AND DEPARTURE WERE DECIDED UPON. THE TAKE-OFF WAS NORMAL BUT DURING PWR REDUCTION, ON INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST PWR AND AN IMMEDIATE RTRN TO THE ARPT WAS ATTEMPTED. THE ACFT ARRIVED HIGH AND FAST OVER THE RWY THRESHOLD WHEN THE PLT FAILED TO DEPLOY THE FLAPS. AFT FLOATING ALMOST THE FULL LENGTH OF THE RWY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 200 FT FM THE DEPT END. IT BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF RWY, COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR WHEN COMING TO REST ON AN ARPT PERIMETER FENCE. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT'S LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT A.D. NOTES 83-13-01 AND 84-10-01, PERTAINING TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH.
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: 609 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 576 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1986; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: M085 Harrisonville MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,400 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.