Cessna 182C accident near Loraine, Illinois, May 2, 1999
On May 2, 1999 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N8563T, was destroyed in an accident near Loraine, Illinois (Clair Rla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fuel system related fire in the engine compartment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1999 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Loraine, Illinois · Clair Rla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8563T · no longer on the register · serial 52463
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he let the engine warm up, taxied to the west end of the strip, throttled up to 1,700 rpm, performed a magneto check with 100 rpm drop on each magneto, pulled carburetor heat, and then the engine died. He said that he pushed in the carburetor heat, adjusted the throttle, and cranked the engine two or three times. He said that he smelled smoke, looked out, saw smoke, got out of the airplane, and saw flames inside of the bottom of the engine compartment. The airplane was destroyed by the ensuing fire. Postaccident inspection disclosed that the carburetor float level was found higher than the specified level. The carburetor hose was found stiff and was marked first quarter of 1977.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 332 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1998; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-420-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from UIN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.