Cessna 182K accident near Huntington, Indiana, December 31, 1991
On December 31, 1991 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N2859R, was destroyed in an accident near Huntington, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED IN A TURN WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE; ICING CONDITIONS, HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORY DISREGARDED, FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1991 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Huntington, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2859R · no longer on the register · serial 18258459
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS BEING VECTORED FOR APPROACH AT DESTINATION AIRPORT IN IMC CONDITIONS WHEN HE REPORTED ICE ACCUMULATION. ATC CLEARED PILOT TO CLIMB, BUT AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLIMB. ATC CLEARED AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND ON HEADING TOWARD AIRPORT. PILOT BROKE OUT OF CLOUDS NEAR AIRPORT, OVERFLEW AIRPORT, AND BEGAN TO TURN FOR VFR APPROACH. PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT WHEN HE BEGAN TO TURN. STATE TROOPER WHO RESPONDED TO SCENE REPORTED ONE-INCH OF ICE ON ALL EXTERIOR AIRCRAFT SURFACES. PILOT WAS ADVISED OF ICING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA WHEN HE OBTAINED WEATHER BRIEF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,226 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 70VA Burnt Chimney VA at 9:15 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded at 900 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:38 pm from FWA, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.