Cessna 182E accident near Blairsville, Georgia, November 21, 1990
On November 21, 1990 at about 7:00 am local time, a Cessna 182E, registered N3506Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blairsville, Georgia (Blairsville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTING IN ENGINE STOPPAGE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN FUEL EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1990 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Blairsville, Georgia · Blairsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N3506Y · registry record · serial 18254406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT FOUR HOURS INTO THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS 'CUTTING OUT A BIT' AND THAT THE FUEL QUANTITY ON THE LEFT TANK WAS LOW. WHILE BEING VECTORED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. LESS THAN ONE QUART OF FUEL WAS RECOVERED FROM THE AIRPLANE, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE OR TANK RUPTURE. THE PILOT MADE NO ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FUEL PRIOR TO EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE PROBLEM. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION AND ENGINE RUN REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,053 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 2:54 am
- Destination: AHN Athens GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 7, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from CHA, 61 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.