Cessna 182A accident near Hartford, Kentucky, June 13, 1990
On June 13, 1990 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4760D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartford, Kentucky (Ohio County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1990 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hartford, Kentucky · Ohio County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4760D · no longer on the register · serial 34860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS IN THE PATTERN FOR LANDING WHEN HIS ENGINE LOST POWER. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN TREES ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. AN ALTERNATE FUEL SOURCE WAS CONNECTED AND THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST RUN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOPPED THE TANKS THE EVENING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, BUT FUEL RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST SERVICED WITH FUEL ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED IN OVER 18 MONTHS. THE PILOT WAS FLYING WITHOUT A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, AND HE COULD NOT PROVIDE PROOF OF HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW.
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: 325 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,300 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,645 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 75D New Martinsvill WV at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from OWB, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.