Cessna TR182 accident near San Antonio, Texas, February 8, 2008
On February 8, 2008 at about 2:27 am local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N2225T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near San Antonio, Texas (San Antonio International 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
Separation of the turbocharger exhaust stack, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 2008 · about 2:27 am local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · San Antonio International · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N2225T · registry record · serial R1820001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and his student had just departed and climbed to an altitude of 1,700 feet mean sea level (msl), when they began to smell a burning odor in the cockpit followed by a rough running engine and a sudden loss of power. The flight instructor made several attempts to re-start the engine before he executed a gear-up, forced landing to a strawberry field at night. Upon touch down, the airplane's left wing contacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the spar. A witness, who observed the airplane while airborne, said that he saw flames coming from the engine compartment. Examination of the engine cowling revealed there was a localized area of paint discoloration and blistering in the area where the turbo charger was located. Further examination of the engine revealed that the turbocharger exhaust stack had separated at an area where it had been welded. A review of the engine logbooks revealed there was no entry made regarding a weld in this area, so it could not be determined who or when the weld was made.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Failure other cases naming the engine
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 62 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,308.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSF Stinson TX at 11:15 pm
- Destination: SAT San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from SAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2225T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2225T on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna TR182 Turbo Skylane RG 465 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 5,245 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- San Antonio International · nearest airport
- Stinson Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2225T 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DFW08LA065.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.