# NTSB WPR18TA157: Cessna 182D, N9163X, Crescent Mills, CA, May 18, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: May 18, 2018, 08:09 local (15:09 UTC) - Place: Crescent Mills, CA - Coordinates: 40.04861, -120.980834 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0486&lon=-120.9808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97361 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18TA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97361/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97361 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA157 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the development of carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he arrived in the vicinity of the destination airport, there was fog in the valley where the airport was located, and he began circling the airplane at a low engine power setting. The engine subsequently lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a river, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The atmospheric conditions present in the area at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at glide power settings which likely resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2018, about 0809 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182D airplane, N9163X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crescent Mills, California. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, as he approached the destination airport, he observed fog low in the valley where the airport was located and began to circle at a low engine power setting. While circling, the engine lost total power. The pilot established the airplane's best glide speed and proceeded toward a river for a forced landing. The airplane impacted rocks and came to rest nose down with the left wing in the water, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The atmospheric conditions present in the area of the accident site included a surface temperature of 22°C, dew point of 7.5°C, and a relative humidity of 63%; consistent with a potential for serious carburetor icing at glide power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9163X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9163X-2019-09-20), registration cancelled 2019-09-20, S/N 18253563, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D - Registry model: [Cessna 182D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (registry code 2072710) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253563 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 3795 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2018, 20 hours before - Departed: O85, Redding, CA - Destination: 2O1, Quincy, CA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 84 total, 7 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSVE, 22 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180518023749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180518023749A), May 18, 2018: Cessna 182D, Cresent Mills, CA, Substantial damage. Airplane departed benton airfield (O85) in redding, CA at 0700(PST) with 2 personnel on board to gansner airfield (201) in Quincy, CA. Upon arrival at Quincy… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97361. 714 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6547537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20prined_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of email - weather study (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7505270&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wx%20study-Rel.pdf - Photo - right wing damage (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7505395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=damage%20to%20airplane%20dms-Rel.pdf 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.