Cessna R182 accident near Mcalester, Oklahoma, July 25, 2006
On July 25, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna R182, registered N7364T, was destroyed in an accident near Mcalester, Oklahoma (Mc Alester Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight fuel leak and fire as result of electrical arcing of a fuel line connecting the engine driven fuel pump and the electric fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mcalester, Oklahoma · Mc Alester Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N7364T · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 20 minutes after takeoff, the 431-hour flight instructor on an instructional flight, noticed that both fuel quantity indicators were reading lower than expected and the fuel pressure was indicating zero. The instructor responded by turning on the electric fuel pump switch to which no change was noted. Shortly after diverting for a precautionary landing to a nearby airport, the engine began to run rough. Upon touchdown on runway 19, flames came through the firewall and the flight instructor lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the edge of the 100-foot wide runway and while still rolling, the two occupants departed the burning airplane. The airplane was engulfed in flames a few seconds later. According to the FAA inspector, a fuel line which connects the auxiliary fuel pump to the engine driven fuel pump was found with a three quarter to one inch size hole through its metal braiding. The steel braided fuel line had signatures consistent with contact with an electrical wire.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 431 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 358 as pilot in command; 8 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,561.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Southeaster Oklahoma State University
The flight
- Departed from: KTUL Tulsa OK at 6:10 pm
- Destination: KDUA Durant OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,602 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KMLC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.