Cessna 182H accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, October 22, 1995
On October 22, 1995 at about 9:22 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N70535, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fatigue failure of the number one piston assembly, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1995 · about 9:22 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N70535 · no longer on the register · serial 18259291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported a complete loss of engine power. He selected an emergency landing area south of the airport for a forced landing. During the emergency landing, the main landing gear was torn from the airframe, and the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine assembly, disclosed that there was a hole in the engine case below the right magneto. A teardown examination of the engine disclosed that debris from the number one piston was scattered throughout the engine crankcase. Examination of piston debris, from the piston pin area, exhibited evidence of fatigue cracking.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,212 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,125 as pilot in command; 664 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,737 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1995; 347 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL at 9:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from TCL, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.