Cessna 182C accident near Castleberry, Alabama, May 24, 1995
On May 24, 1995 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N8983T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castleberry, Alabama. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY MANNER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1995 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Castleberry, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8983T · registry record · serial 52883
- 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 THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DESCENDING FROM 8,500 TO 4,500 MSL. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER, AND ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A FARM FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON ROUGH TERRAIN. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE WAS CONDUCTED. THE ENGINE ROTATED FREELY WHEN THE PROPELLER WAS ROTATED BY HAND. THE ENGINE INTERNAL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. THE TOP SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF BLACK, SOFT SOOT ON THE ELECTRODES OF THE SPARK PLUGS. THE STARTER WAS ENERGIZED AND THE ENGINE STARTED SUCCESSFULLY. THE ENGINE WAS RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THEN SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT/OPERATOR'S HANDBOOK DESCENT CHECKLIST REQUIRED THE USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED. ICING PROBABILITY CURVES INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN AN AREA CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER.
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: 275 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,313 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1995; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUO Auburn AL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 5R4 Foley AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from CEW, 50 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.