# Accident 20040110004189A: Cessna 182P, Baudette, MN, January 10, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 10, 2004, 17:45 local time
- Place: Baudette, MN
- Airport: Baudette International Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.6294° N, 94.7267° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6294&lon=-94.7267&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5787J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5787J-2006-11-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182P (registry code 2075816, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Reported engine: CONT O470S
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 122 total, 79 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04FA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040110004189A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT N5787J DEPARTED BAUDETTE, MN ON 01-10-04 APPROXIMATELY 1745 CST. BASED ON WITNESS REPORTS, THE PIC AND PASSENGER'S PLANNED DESTINATION WAS ANOKA, MN. FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED AND A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS NOT OBTAINED BY THE PIC. ASOS AT FIELD REPORTED VISIBILITY OF 5 STATUTE MILES IN MIST AND SKY CONDITION OF 800 FEET OVERCAST, TEMPERATURE OF 25F AT APPROXIMATE TIME OF DEPARTURE. WITNESS REPORTS STATED, SNOWING AND FREEZING ON THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR WHEN PIC AND PASSENGER WERE DROPPED OFF AT THE AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED APPROXIMATELY 7.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BAUDETTE, MN AIRPORT. TWO FATALITIES (PIC AND PASSENGER) AS A RESULT OF IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AND AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. PIC DECIDED TO TAKEOFF DURING SNOW/FREEZING DRIZZLE IN THE DARK, VFR AND TOTAL OF 122 FLIGHT HOURS. PIC, CHARLES ANTHONY MERTENS RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE 10/03. PASSENGER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS NOT A PILOT. THE WRECKAGE AT THE SITE WAS SCATTERED APPROXIMATELY 350 FEET FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT. THE EVIDENCE INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN AN ANGLE AT A HIGH SPEED AT A HIGH POWER SETTING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI04FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04FA055), Jan 11, 2004: Cessna 182P (N5787J), Baudette, MN, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, low…

## Other reports on N5787J (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19820802056929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820802056929A), Aug 2, 1982: Cessna 182P (N5787J), Abbeville, LA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on ferry flight. Flipped over on forced landing in a field with tall grass. Cause of power loss unknown

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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