Cessna 182N accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, March 10, 1990
On March 10, 1990 at about 9:26 pm local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N92785, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1990 · about 9:26 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N92785 · no longer on the register · serial 18260354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY. THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED ABOUT FOUR HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH FUEL HE HAD ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS, HE REPLIED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW, HOWEVER HE HAD MADE THE SAME TRIP PREVIOUSLY WITHOUT REFUELING. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, INCLUDING BOTH FUEL TANKS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 920 hours in all; 920 in this make and model; 880 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,881 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1990; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISO Kinston NC at 5:15 pm
- Destination: TCL Tuscaloosa AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from TCL, 3 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N92785 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.