Cessna 182P accident near Nashville, Tennessee, February 8, 1982
On February 8, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N9479M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- February 8, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9479M · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ENTERING A LONG FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY TURNED ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND MANEUVERED THE PLANE TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT. BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE STRUCK THE TOPS OF TREES AS THE PILOT WAS AVOIDING POWERLINES BY CROSSING BELOW. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE PARKING LOT. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES AND A FENCE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE LOT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT AT 2000 FT WERE ABOUT 32 DEGREES. ABOVE AND BELOW THAT ALTITUDE, THE TEMPERATURE INCREASED TO ABOUT 42 TO 45 DEGREES. DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE, IT WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE CARBURETOR WAS DRAINED TO CHECK FOR WATER. ABOUT 1 1/2 OZ OF AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE, HEAVIER THEN FUEL, WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE PLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 5.3 HRS SINCE THE LAST REFUELING ON 11/8/81. NEARLY ONE QUART OF WATER WAS DRAINED DURING THE PREFLIGHT.
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: student
- Flight time: 233 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 546 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Portland TN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: Sanderson TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 111°F (44°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.