Cessna 182 accident near Lebanon, Ohio, October 28, 2020
On October 28, 2020 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna 182, registered N3537C, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lebanon, Ohio (Warren County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance that resulted in a blocked crankcase breather port and a subsequent total 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 28, 2020 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Ohio · Warren County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 T, built 2001 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3537C · no longer on the register · serial 18280966
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were on a cross-country flight after maintenance personnel installed new avionics in the airplane. While at cruise altitude, the engine began to knock and vibrate and subsequently the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude or reach an airport and landed the airplane in a field. The airplane overran the field and impacted trees; the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The wreckage was examined, and a plastic cap was found installed on the engine crankcase breather port; the engine crankcase seal was found dislodged. Oil was found on the underside of the engine compartment and cowling. The blocked breather port likely allowed excessive pressure to build up inside the engine and resulted in the dislodged crankcase seal and a loss of oil. The investigation determined the mechanic who installed the avionics on the airplane also performed maintenance on the engine, which was outside of the repair station’s operations specifications. The mechanic did not have technical data for the work performed on the engine, did not document the work performed, and did not remove the plastic cap from the crankcase breather port following the installation of avionics. The accident is consistent with a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of improper maintenance.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Replacement › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Eng oil dist (airframe furn) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,014 hours in all; 688 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 5,004 as pilot in command; 3,528 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 20, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,114 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO540-AB1A5 (piston); 210 hours total
- Operator: Flying Neutrons LLC
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 3:21 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft
- Temperature: 60°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from I68
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 26, 2022. 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 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Repair Station Findings | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Oils System Description Email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 5 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.