Cessna 182L accident near Coupland, Texas, June 20, 2006
On June 20, 2006 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N42656, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coupland, Texas (Crosswinds Airfield). It was a skydiving 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
The pilot's disorientation. Contributing factors were the prevailing night light condition and the inoperative landing light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2006 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Coupland, Texas · Crosswinds Airfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N42656 · no longer on the register · serial 18259127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 568-hour commercial pilot was returning to a private airstrip for a night landing after releasing parachute jumpers. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the aircraft's landing light was inoperative so in an attempt to identify the unlit grass runway, the pilot flew over the area several times to try to find the airstrip. On the third pass the pilot believed to be over the runway and proceed with an approach to land. During the initial landing roll, the airplane's right landing gear struck a fence which resulted in the aircraft abruptly veering to the right and impacting the ground. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident scene, reported that the pilot missed the airstrip and he found the aircraft resting in a livestock field located approximately mid field and 150 feet to the right of the airstrip centerline.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 568 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 91 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,059 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TE75 Lexington TX at 1:25 am
- Destination: KXWN Coupland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway TE9, 2,650 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KAUS
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.