Cessna 182B accident near Elberta, Alabama, April 20, 1991
On April 20, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N7202E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elberta, Alabama (Horak Field). It was an other work-use 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF INDUCTION ICE, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elberta, Alabama · Horak Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7202E · registry record · serial 52202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A PARA-DROP AND WAS CIRCLING THE AREA WAITING FOR THE JUMPERS TO TOUCHDOWN. WHILE MANEUVERING 800 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT FAILED. HE LANDED IN A PLANTER FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO REVEAL A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. INDUCTION ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED CARBURETOR HEAT WAS USED AS HE DESCENDED TO 2500 FEET, BUT HE FELT THAT NO ADDITIONAL HEAT WS NEEDED SINCE IT WAS A RELATIVELY CLEAR DAY.
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
- Flight time: 791 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 791 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Observation at 9:51 pm from PNS, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N7202E 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.