Cessna 182 accident near Robstown, Texas, December 30, 2019
On December 30, 2019, a 1963 Cessna 182, registered N3473U, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Robstown, Texas (Nueces County Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's failure to set the friction lock on the throttle before hand propping the engine, which allowed the airplane to move forward and impact a credit card machine. Contributing to the accident was the malfunction of the parking brake for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2019
- Place
- Robstown, Texas · Nueces County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 F, built 1963 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3473U · no longer on the register · serial 18254873
- 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 he parked the airplane in front of the fuel pump and refueled both wing tanks before pushing the airplane back. The pilot reported that, while checking to see if the battery would charge before continuing the flight, the propeller turned slowly, and the engine did not start, so he chose to hand prop the airplane. He set the throttle, mixture, and parking brake, and after several attempts, the engine started. The engine appeared to be at idle, but then the rpms increased. The airplane moved forward and impacted the fuel station's credit card machine before he could enter and stop the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe's bottom firewall area. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the throttle's friction lock was working. A check of the parking brake revealed that, even after the parking brake was applied, the airplane moved, and the brake did not function as intended. The reason for the parking brake malfunction was not determined. The accident is consistent with the pilot not setting the friction lock on the throttle and not verifying if the airplane would move when the parking brake was set.
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
- Ground handling event during standing (engine(s) start-up)
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
- factor Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,055 hours in all; 41.7 in this make and model; 101.3 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 1,055 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,474 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 2019
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 R (piston); 2,055 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHRL Harlingen TX at 10:20 pm
- Destination: 1TE4 Marion TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.