Cessna 182 accident near Atwood, Kansas, October 20, 1987
On October 20, 1987 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N2472Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atwood, Kansas (Atwood airport). It was a business 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
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
- October 20, 1987 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atwood, Kansas · Atwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2472Q · registry record · serial 57672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC SAID THAT HE DID AN ENGINE RUNUP AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO RUN ABOUT 6 ADDITIONAL MINUTES BEFORE COMMENCING THE TAKEOFF. THE PIC SAID THAT UPON REACHING 100 FEET ALTITUDE IN THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE, HE OBSERVED A DECLINE IN ENGINE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE AND MANIFOLD PRESSURE. A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED IN A MILO FIELD OFF THE RUNWAY. POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR FUEL CONTAMINATION. ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS INDICATE THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE PIC DID NOT USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL OR DURING CLIMBOUT. HE INDICATED THAT HE CHECKED ITS FUNCTION DURING THE ENGINE RUN-UP, BUT DID NOT USE IT AFTER THAT.
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: 151 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,349 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADT Atwood KS at 1:45 pm
- Destination: OEL Oakley KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from GLD, 30 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.