ERA26LA197

On May 3, 2026, about 2241 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182D, N9069X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lancaster, Ohio. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he planned four flights the day of the accident for the purpose of building flight time. The first flight originated at Fairfield County Airport (LHQ), Lancaster, Ohio with a destination of Warren County Airport (I68), Lebanon, Ohio. The pilot completely fueled the inboard wing fuel tanks at I68, with the addition of 39 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline. He then departed I68 and returned to LHQ. From LHQ, the pilot flew to Eastern WV Regional Airport (MRB), Martinsburg, West Virginia. The accident flight, which was the fourth and final flight for the day, departed MRB destined for LHQ. About 6 miles east of the LHQ airport, about 3,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot reported a partial loss of engine power, which he described as the engine “sputtering.” The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the airplane struck trees and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A witness on the ground, near the accident site heard the airplane, and described the engine noise as a “sputtering engine at low RPM.” The airframe and engine were retained for further examination. Additionally, a JPI Fuel Scan 450 was recovered from the wreckage and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC for download.