Cessna 182 accident near Sanford, North Carolina, July 23, 1990
On July 23, 1990 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N58469, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanford, North Carolina. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE NO.1 PISTON, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS, THE FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1990 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N58469 · registry record · serial 18262083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 4000 FEET THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND ESTABLISHED A CIRCULAR PATTERN TO A COTTOM FIELD. AS HE DESCENDED THROUGH 3500 FEET SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE COWLING AND SOME CAME INTO THE COCKPIT AREA. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD, BUT FAILED TO EXTEND THE WING FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE TOUCHDOWN POINT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A 6 INCH HOLE IN THE ENGINE CASE BETWEEN THE NO. 1 AND THE NO.3 CYLINDERS. THE NO. 1 PISTON HAD DISINTEGRATED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION FAILED TO DETERMINE THE MODE OF THE PISTON FAILURE. THE OWNER CONFIRMED THAT A TOP OVERHAUL HAD BEEN COMPLETED ABOUT 500 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE OWNER HAD NOT ENSURED THAT ALL MAINTENANCE ENTRIES WERE COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT FARS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 615 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R25A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILM Wilmington NC at 10:40 pm
- Destination: INT Winston Salem NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from RDU, 40 miles away
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.