Cessna 182Q accident near Munising, Michigan, March 14, 1992
On March 14, 1992 at about 1:20 am local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N96381, was substantially damaged in an accident near Munising, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION TO REMOVE WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1992 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Munising, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N96381 · no longer on the register · serial 18266704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD IN EXCESS OF 32 OUNCES OF WATER DRAINED FROM THE WING TANKS AND CARBURETOR/FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT'S MECHANIC AND THE PILOT IN PREPARATION FOR A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE MECHANIC REPORTED HE DRAINED AND FLUSHED THE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PILOT SAID HE REFUELED THE AIRPLANE WITH 88 GALLONS OF FRESH AV GAS AND WAITED 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR TO CHECKING THE WING AND BELLY SUMPS FOR WATER. HE FOUND NO WATER AND BEGAN HIS FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS LATER HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN TREES FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL SYSTEM POST ACCIDENT REVEALED SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES OF WATER. THE FUEL TANK FROM WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS REFUELED PRIOR TO FLIGHT WAS FOUND FREE OF SIGNIFICANT CONTAMINATES. WHEN FRESH,UNCONTAMINATED FUEL WAS FED TO THE ENGINE, IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY.
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: 2,500 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 717 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1991; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DET Detroit City MI at 10:15 pm
- Destination: CMX Houghton MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: -15°F (-26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N96381 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.