Cessna 182P accident near Humnoke, Arkansas, March 31, 2011
On March 31, 2011 at about 12:47 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N52605, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Humnoke, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2011 · about 12:47 pm local time
- Place
- Humnoke, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52605 · no longer on the register · serial 18262703
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and two passengers were en route to their destination when the airplane's engine surged. According to the pilot, he applied carburetor heat and engine power was restored. The engine surged again followed by a total loss of engine power. He said that he was unable to restart the engine so he performed a forced landing to a highway. The airplane landed hard, the nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop. Substantial crushing damage was sustained to the airplane's left wing and firewall. An examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed approximately one gallon of fuel present in the wings. In addition, only a small amount of fuel was found in the gascolator and carburetor.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 406 hours in all; 239 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 345 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 17, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,752 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 2011; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGT Stuttgart Muni AR at 12:35 pm
- Destination: PBF Pine Bluff AR
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from SGT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.