Cessna 182P accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, June 8, 2025
On June 8, 2025 at about 11:09 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 182P, registered N7376N, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Mineral Wells, Texas (Mineral Wells airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 tank selection prior to takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the airplane checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2025 · about 11:09 pm local time
- Place
- Mineral Wells, Texas · Mineral Wells · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P, built 1974 · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7376N · registry record · serial 18263159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the engine lost total power about 200 ft above the ground during the initial climb. The pilot observed that the fuel selector was in the OFF position and moved the fuel selector to the BOTH position but chose not to attempt to restart the engine due to the airplane’s low altitude. The pilot conducted a forced landing, during which the right wing and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and he failed to properly use the checklist during the preflight.
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 initial climb defining event
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 551 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 15, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 570 hours total
The flight
- Destination: UTS Huntsville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,996 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KMWL
Weather report (METAR): KMWL 082235Z AUTO 20006KT 10SM VCTS FEW045 33/25 A2977 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE-W RAB14E24 TSE29 P0000 T03280250
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25LA199.