# NTSB LAX88LA316: Cessna 182M, N4834P, Crescent City, CA, September 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1988, 19:29 local (Sep 10, 1988, 02:29 UTC)
- Place: Crescent City, CA
- Coordinates: 41.780796, -124.160003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7808&lon=-124.1600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26101
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA316
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26101/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA316

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 PISTON DUE TO PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE PISTON.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,piston - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AND THEN BEGAN BACKFIRING. HE 'CUT' THE POWER BACK TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM 'SHAKING APART' & TRIED TO GLIDED THE AIRPLANE TO AN AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING OF ROUGH TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE #2 PISTON HAD FAILED. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE PISTON REVEALED PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4834P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4834P-1992-11-18), registration cancelled 1992-11-18, S/N 18259867 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M
- Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18259867
- Airframe hours: 2750
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edward H. Pierce
- Registered owner: Pierre, Edward H
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1988, 78 hours before
- Departed: SCK, STOCKTON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,400 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880909038529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880909038529A), Sep 9, 1988: Cessna 182M, Crescent City, CA, Substantial damage. Engine failed. Aircraft damaged on forced landing. A piston had failed. Had prexisting fatigue cracks.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.