- Date
- July 23, 1990, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Sanford, NC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N58469Cessna 182
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900723028209A
- Case key
- 8257
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the no.1 piston, for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. A factor to the accident was, the forced landing in a soft field.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While cruising at 4000 feet the pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power. He declared an emergency and established a circular pattern to a cottom field. As he descended through 3500 feet smoke was seen coming from under the cowling and some came into the cockpit area. The pilot continued the approach to the field, but failed to extend the wing flaps. The airplane flipped over about 300 feet from the touchdown point. Examination of the engine revealed that there was a 6 inch hole in the engine case between the no. 1 and the no.3 cylinders. The no. 1 piston had disintegrated. Metallurgical examination failed to determine the mode of the piston failure. The owner confirmed that a top overhaul had been completed about 500 hours prior to the accident. A review of the maintenance records indicated that the owner had not ensured that all maintenance entries were completed in accordance with current FARS.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N58469
- Reported as
- Cessna 182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18262083
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R25A, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- James Whittington, Jr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ILM · Wilmington, NC
- Destination
- INT · Winston Salem, NC
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 615 total · 200 in this make and model · 550 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 25 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 40 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N58469 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.