Cessna 182 accident near Evans, West Virginia, May 20, 1990
On May 20, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N2411G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Evans, West Virginia. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAFFING RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Evans, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2411G · no longer on the register · serial 51711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON OPEN FIELD, BUT AT 50 FT AGL THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE PLT STARTED CLIMBING, BUT SOON AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE PLT LANDED IN TREES WHERE THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE MOLDED-CELLULAR TYPE CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS CHAFING AGAINST THE INTERNAL WALLS OF ITS CHAMBER. AUTOGAS WAS USED IN THE ACFT. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS IN EFFECT WHICH INDICATED INSTANCES THAT THE MOLDED-CELLULAR TYPE FLOATS HAD ABSORBED FLUID. THE BULLETIN RECOMMENDED CHANGING TO METAL FLOATS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,848 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 3,625 as pilot in command; 71 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,229 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1990; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I18 Ravenswood WV at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from PKB
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.