Cessna TR182 accident near Little Rock, Arkansas, January 10, 2005
On January 10, 2005 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N6150S, was destroyed in an accident near Little Rock, Arkansas (Adams Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an instrument approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the mist and low cloud ceiling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2005 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Little Rock, Arkansas · Adams Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N6150S · no longer on the register · serial R18201628
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 4-place single-engine airplane impacted the water while executing an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions. A partial debris field was located in the river; however, the airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The airplane's final destination was in Florida, where the airplane was to be sold. The maintenance records were reported to be aboard the airplane and were not recovered. Voice communications depicted that the 1,014 -hour instrument rated private pilot was vectored to the ILS Runway 22R approach. Radar data revealed that the airplane remained left of the final approach course throughout the approach before turning right of the course line approximately 2.5 miles short of the final approach fix (FAF) for the approach. The airplane then turned left of the final approach course and back to the localizer course line approximately one mile from the FAF. When the airplane was abeam the FAF, it was observed to be slightly left of the course line. When the airplane was approximately one mile from the runway threshold, it was observed drifting to the right of the course line. As the airplane approached the airport, a 180-degree left turn was initiated, over flying the airport. A witness located on the airport reported observing the accident airplane slightly east of runway 18 at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), flying at a high rate of speed. The witness stated that the airplane "made a drastic pull-up and a steep bank of at least 45 degrees," as it reentered the clouds approximately 200 feet agl. All navigational aids associated with the approach were reported to be functional at the time of the accident. An instrument flight instructor who witnessed the accident reported that 30 to 40 minutes prior to the accident, he flew the same approach under similar weather conditions and did not experience any anomalies with the localizer of glide slope. No other irregularities with any navigational aids at the airport were reported by any pilots around the time of the accident.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,014 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO
- Destination: LIT Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22R, 7,273 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 200 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from LIT
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.