Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

December 4, 2004 · Cessna 182P · N21213

Belle Fourche, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 4, 2004
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Belle Fourche, SD
Aircraft
Cessna 182P
Tail Number
N21213
Operator
Aero Flight Training
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI05CA040

The airplane bounced and then veered off the eastern edge of the runway during landing following a visual approach to the airport. The airplane then impacted terrain and a cement culvert. Night visual meteorological conditions with a gusting crosswind prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the landing light ceased to operate during the approach, and he could not get the instrument panel lights to operate. The flashlight that a passenger used ceased to operate after the reported instrument panel light(s) ceased to operate. The pilot stated that after the airplane touched down, he rolled the yoke level and pulled back. A gust of wind "quickly" moved the airplane off the runway. Inspection of the airplane revealed the flaps were extended 30 degrees, and the rear passenger seats were not equipped with shoulder harnesses. Postaccident operation of the landing/instrument panel light(s), for about 30 seconds, noted that none of the instrument panel light(s) illuminated, the overhead light(s) illuminated, and the landing light illuminated. No circuit breakers tripped during this operation. The pilot had a total flight time of 69 hours, of which 22 hours were in the accident airplane. He did not have any night flying time in the accident airplane. The pilot's airman medical certificate had the following limitation: "not valid for night flight or by color signal control."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the gusting crosswind, the pilot's lack of night flying of experience, the inoperative instrument lights, and the night conditions.

Full Narrative

On December 3, 2004, at 1910 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182P, N21213, operated by Aero Flight Training as a rental airplane, received substantial damage on impact with terrain and a culvert during landing on runway 32 (4,498 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at Belle Fourche Municipal Airport (EFC), Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot reported no injuries and three passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Front Range Airport, Denver, Colorado, at 1600, en route to EFC. The pilot stated that following the first landing attempt on runway 32, he executed a go-around after drifting eastward while in the traffic pattern. After the go-around, the landing light circuit breaker tripped, and the landing light ceased to illuminate. He reset the circuit breaker twice and then switched the landing light off after the circuit breaker would not reset. The pilot stated that he could not get the instrument panel lights to operate, and the overhead light(s), which were red in color, did not provide enough illumination for him to see the instrument panel. The pilot stated that the right front seat passenger used a flashlight to illuminate the instrument panel, but the flashlight ceased to operate prior to the second landing attempt. During his second landing attempt on runway 32, the pilot stated that he rolled the yoke level and pulled back after the airplane touched down with the nose wheel first. The right landing gear then contacted a grass area on the eastern edge of the runway when a gust of wind moved the airplane "quickly" off the runway. The pilot held a temporary private pilot certificate with a single-engine airplane land rating issued November 19, 2004. The pilot was issued a third class airman medical certificate on September 14, 2004, with the following limitation: "not valid for night flight or by color signal control." The pilot reported that he a total flight time of 69 hours, of which 22 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. He reported that he had 0 hours of night flight time in the accident make and model. The airplane was a 1972 Cessna 182P, serial number 18261492, powered by a Continental O-470 series engine. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the front seats were equipped with seat belts and shoulder harnesses, and the rear seats were equipped with seat belts and no shoulder harnesses. Inspection of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane contacted runway 32 approximately 500 feet down the runway and exited off the east side about 1,000 feet down the runway where it impacted a taxiway embankment and a cement culvert. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that the airplane bounced once and then veered off the runway. FAA inspection of the airplane revealed the flaps were extended 30 degrees. The inspector operated the landing light for about 30 seconds and noted that none of the instrument panel light(s) illuminated, and the overhead light(s) illuminated. No circuit breakers tripped during this operation. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station, but he "looked" at a computer instead. The pilot stated to the inspector that he did not know there were winds at the airport prior to his departure. According of the FAA inspector, witnesses reported that the winds were from the west-northwest at an unspecified speed with one witness at EFC reporting that about 1600 the winds were from the northwest about 20-25 knots. The pilot stated, as an estimate, that the winds were from the southwest at 5 knots with gusts at 15 knots. U.S Naval Observatory sun and moon data for December 3, 2004, Denver Colorado, states that sunset occurred at 1636 and the end of civil twilight occurred at 1706. Sun and moon data for Rapid City, South Dakota, states that sunset occurred at 1615 and the end of civil twilight occurred at 1648. According to 14 CFR Part 1, Definitions and Abbreviations, "night means the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the American Air Almanac, converted to local time."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:10 MST
Nearest AirportBelle Fourche Municipal Airpor (0nm)
Runway32
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182P
Tail NumberN21213
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAero Flight Training
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470 · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured1
Total4
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind210° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 21 C
Altimeter29.70 inHg
Observation Time01:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data