Cessna 182A accident near Bowling Green, Missouri, December 17, 1994
On December 17, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N6090B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bowling Green, Missouri. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE RESERVE PARACHUTE CABLE HOUSING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE PARACHUTE, AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH, AND JAMMING OF, THE AIRCRAFT'S HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, NECESSITATING A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N6090B · registry record · serial 34090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF WITH FOUR PARACHUTISTS ON BOARD. AFTER REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 11,000 FEET, ONE PARACHUTIST EXITED THE AIRPLANE. AS THE SECOND PARACHUTIST WAS EXITING, HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE DEPLOYED PULLING HIM TOWARD THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PARACHUTE CANOPY WENT OVER THE TOP OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE PARACHUTIST WENT UNDER THE STABILIZER. THE RESERVE PARACHUTE SUSPENSION LINES SLIPPED OFF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE PARACHUTIST THEN OPENED THE MAIN PARACHUTE AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL DESCENT/LANDING. HOWEVER, THE STABILIZER AND EMPENNAGE WERE DAMAGED AND THE ELEVATOR WAS JAMMED. THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE REMAINING PARACHUTISTS TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE. ALTHOUGH THE ELEVATOR WAS JAMMED, THE PILOT MANAGED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN A PLOWED CORN FIELD USING POWER AND AILERON CONTROL. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE DESIGN OF THE RESERVE PARACHUTE CABLE HOUSING WAS INADEQUATE (NOT ADEQUATELY SECURED), WHICH ALLOWED THE CABLE TO BE PULLED PREMATURELY. THE PARACHUTE MANUFACTURER (PARACHUTE INDUSTRY OF SOUTH AFRICA) AGREED TO REDESIGN THE HOUSING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 516 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 442 as pilot in command; 45 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,672 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1994; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H19 MO at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from UIN, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.