Cessna 182J accident near Athens, Alabama, April 23, 1994
On April 23, 1994 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N2945F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, Alabama (Madison County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL AN ACCESS PLUG WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1994 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Alabama · Madison County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N2945F · no longer on the register · serial 182-57045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING AT 2000 FEET MSL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED; THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A ROUGH FIELD ADJACENT TO A HORSE RACE TRACK. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE THAT, THE OIL DILUTION ACCESS PLUG WAS MISSING WHICH ALLOWED THE ENGINE OIL PUMP TO CAVITATE; THE PLUG WAS NOT LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED SIX HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A SERVICE BULLETIN REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED PLUG WITH A SQUARE HEAD PLUG WITH A SAFETY WIRE FEATURE WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,306 hours in all; 704 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1,225 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1994; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from HSV, 21 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.