Cessna 182 accident near Millstadt, Illinois, June 12, 1994
On June 12, 1994 at about 7:26 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N94752, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millstadt, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight inspection and failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. Related factors are the loose fuel cap (siphoning) and the uneven terrain encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1994 · about 7:26 pm local time
- Place
- Millstadt, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N94752 · no longer on the register · serial 18266501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH EXTENDED RANGE FUEL TANKS (80 GALLONS CAPACITY, 75, GALLONS USABLE FUEL), AND WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE. HIS CALCULATIONS INDICATED HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE (ESTIMATED) FIVE HOUR FLIGHT, PLUS ONE HOUR RESERVE. THE PILOT REPORTED ALMOST FIVE HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE CUT OUT, RESTARTED BRIEFLY, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE INTENDED DESTINATION. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE FUEL STREAKS ON THE RIGHT WING AND REPORTED A 'FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE (SIPHONED).' AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO INSPECTED THE AIRPLANE OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT AND THAT THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 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: 95 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,472 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1993; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,949 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VAD Valdosta GA at 2:37 pm
- Destination: CPS Cahokia IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 pm from CPS, 8 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.