Cessna 182F accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, April 1, 2010
On April 1, 2010 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3320U, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Wichita Falls, Texas (Kickapoo Downtown Airport). It was a business 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
A fire of undetermined origin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2010 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita Falls, Texas · Kickapoo Downtown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3320U · no longer on the register · serial 18254720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway when he smelled an electrical odor in the cockpit and then saw smoke coming from the instrument panel. He stopped the airplane and shut it down. As he exited the airplane, he saw black smoke and flames coming from the instrument panel. The fire consumed most of the airplane fuselage aft of the engine firewall. The origin of the fire could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during prior to flight
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,300 as pilot in command; 550 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 16, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,464 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2009
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Executive Aircraft Management INC
The flight
- Departed from: CWC Wichita Falls TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from CWC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.