Cessna 182D accident near Greer, South Carolina, March 27, 1991
On March 27, 1991 at about 3:07 pm local time, a Cessna 182D, registered N9884X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greer, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, 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
- March 27, 1991 · about 3:07 pm local time
- Place
- Greer, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182D · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N9884X · no longer on the register · serial 18253394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 3.5 HOURS INTO HIS FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE APPLIED CARB HEAT, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT, HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED ABOUT 1/2 QUART OF FUEL. THE ENGINE RAN SATISFACTORILY ON A TEST STAND. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS OBSERVED.
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
- Flight time: 458 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 458 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1990; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: PHF Newport News VA at 11:35 am
- Destination: GMU Greenville SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:46 pm from GMU, 9 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.
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.