Cessna 182B accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, June 20, 1982
On June 20, 1982 at about 2:34 am local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N2519G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Van Degraff airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1982 · about 2:34 am local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Van Degraff · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2519G · no longer on the register · serial 51819
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD FLOWN FROM EUTAW TO SEALE, AL TO PARTICIPATE IN A PARACHUTE ACTIVITY. ALTHOUGH THE PLANE WAS EQUIPPED FOR PARACHUTING, IT WAS NOT USED FOR THAT PURPOSE ON THAT TRIP. BEFORE RETURNING TO EUTAW, THE PILOT USED A DIPSTICK TO CHECK THE FUEL AND ESTIMATED HE HAD A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT REMAINING FOR THE 1.1 HR RETURN FLIGHT. HE DID NOT CHECK THE WEATHER OR REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. EN ROUTE, HE ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS, DARKNESS, AND HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS. WHILE DEVIATING FROM HIS PLANNED COURSE, HE LOST TRACK OF HIS POSITION AND THE FUEL SUPPLY BECAME LOW. HE DIVERTED TO TUSCALOOSA, AL, BUT RAN OUT OF FUEL DURING HIS APPROACH. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY DURING A FORCED LANDING. NO SEAT OR SEAT BELT WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE PASSENGER; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Seale AL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 3A7 Eutaw AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:17 pm from TCL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.