Cessna 182 accident near Centerville, Iowa, December 21, 1993
On December 21, 1993 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N4791D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Centerville, Iowa (Centerville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane during the flight. Factors related to the accident were the inaccurate fuel consumption calculations for the airplane and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1993 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Centerville, Iowa · Centerville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N4791D · registry record · serial 34891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM GREELEY, COLORADO, TO BURLINGTON, IOWA, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WHEN 20 MILES FORM CENTERVILLE, IOWA, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, ENGINE POWER WAS REGAINED. THE PILOT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO 3,000 FT AND HEADED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 2.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A FENCE AND COLLIDED NOSE DOWN WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED A COUPLE DROPS OF FUEL AND THE GASCOLATOR WAS EMPTY.
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: 210 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 4:30 pm
- Destination: BRL Burlington IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from OTM, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.