Cessna 182A accident near Noblesville, Indiana, July 25, 2004
On July 25, 2004 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3708D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Noblesville, Indiana (Noblesville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to select carburetor heat and his failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall. Factors were unstabilized approach the aircraft's low altitude, and the weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2004 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Noblesville, Indiana · Noblesville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3708D · registry record · serial 182-34408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he began a gradual descent from a cruising altitude of 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl) as the flight neared its intended destination. He stated that after several minutes, the engine began to hesitate. He initially thought that he may have miscalculated the fuel required for the flight since "fuel was low due to managing weight/balance issues." The aircraft was over an airport at the time and the pilot elected to descend for a precautionary landing. He stated that on approach he "came in too fast and pulled up to execute a go-around." As he turned downwind the engine lost power. He stated: "The stall horn was sounding so I tried to level [the] wings as we attempted landing in a bean field." During the forced landing, the nose gear separated and the aircraft nosed over. After the accident, the pilot stated that he did not apply carburetor heat. He noted that he did not think that it was cold enough for carburetor ice to form. A post-accident examination did not reveal any anomalies. The surface temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site was 19 degrees and 13 degrees Celsius, respectively. According a Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the possibility of moderate icing at cruise power and severe icing at descent power exists under those conditions.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 188 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,354.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2004; 28.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADG Adrian MI at 9:00 pm
- Destination: I80 Noblesville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,580 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from IND, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.