- Date
- November 22, 1995, 19:15 local (Nov 23, 1995, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Eagle Lake, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8493SCessna 182H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951122038159A
- Case key
- 19715
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
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the dark night.
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
During cruise flight at night, the engine started 'missing and stopped running at altitude 8,500 feet.' The left fuel gauge was showing 1/4 tank and the right fuel gauge was showing less than 1/4 tank. The GPS showed the nearest airport was at Columbus, Texas. The pilot contacted FSS and was informed that the Columbus Airport was inactive. The pilot saw the Eagle Lake Airport rotating beacon and headed towards it. At 1,000 feet 'the engine started but ran rough' and at 300 feet the 'engine quit again.' The pilot executed a landing to a field and during the landing roll the airplane struck a terrace area. The nose landing gear separated from the fuselage and a post impact fire ensued. Performance data provided by the manufacturer concluded the aircraft would have a flight endurance of 6.6 hours with no fuel reserve. The flight originated from Neosho, Missouri, with 80 gallons of fuel about 4 hours 15 minutes before the accident, and was en route to Victoria, Texas.
Factual narrative
On November 22, 1995, about 1915 central standard time, a Cessna 182H, N8493S, registered to, and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross country flight, collided with a dike during a forced landing near Eagle Lake, Texas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Neosho, Missouri, about 4 hours 15 minutes before the accident and was en route to Victoria, Texas.
The pilot reported the following information in the Pilot/Operator Report. Approximately 1830 the engine started "missing and stopped running at altitude 8,500 feet." The left fuel gauge was showing 1/4 tank and the right fuel gauge was showing less than 1/4 tank. The GPS showed the nearest airport was at Columbus, Texas. The pilot contacted FSS and was informed that the Columbus Airport was inactive. The pilot saw the Eagle Lake Airport rotating beacon and headed towards it. At 1,000 feet "the engine started but ran rough." At 300 feet the "engine quit again." The pilot executed a landing to a field and during the landing roll the airplane struck a terrace area. The nose landing gear separated from the fuselage and a post impact fire ensued.
According to the FAA inspector the airplane was destroyed by the post crash fire. The pilot reported he had departed Neosho, Missouri, with 80 gallons of fuel, and he did not made any fuel stops. The last radar contact with the airplane was at 1913.
According to the Cessna 182 Owner's Manual, an airplane equipped with long range fuel tanks will have 79 gallons of usable fuel. At 10,000 MSL, on a standard day, with a gross weight of 2,800 pounds, engine at 2,400 RPM with a manifold pressure of 19, the airplane would have a flight endurance of 6.6 hours with no fuel reserve.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8493S
- Reported as
- Cessna 182H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18256593
- Airframe hours
- 3,279
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R-25B, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lee R. Kahanek
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 31, 1994 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- EOS · Neosho, MO
- Destination
- VCT · Victoria, TX
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,350 total · 600 in this make and model · 65 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SGR, 18 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.