Cessna TR182 accident near Joliet, Illinois, March 28, 1992
On March 28, 1992 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N4822R, was destroyed in an accident near Joliet, Illinois (Joliet Park District airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ELECTRICAL ARCING, AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1992 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Joliet, Illinois · Joliet Park District · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N4822R · no longer on the register · serial R18200612
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FEET, ELECTRICAL ARCING STARTED UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION. THE ARCING CONTINUED AND AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE ENSUED. THE PILOT CONTINUED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND ON TOUCHDOWN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL THE NATURE OF THE ELECTRICAL ARCING. THE FIRE WAS SUPPORTED BY IGNITION OF CARPETING AND UPHOLSTERY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,095 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 890 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,666 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Travel Express Aviation, LTD
The flight
- Departed from: DPA West Chicago IL at 7:45 pm
- Destination: RYY Marietta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 2,940 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from ARR, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.