Cessna 182P accident near Frederick, Maryland, March 30, 2010
On March 30, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N52790, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Frederick, Maryland. It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons following a reported severe turbulence encounter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52790 · no longer on the register · serial 18262846
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerial observation flight with a gusting wind and an adequate supply of fuel on-board, the pilot reported that the engine suddenly lost power after encountering a downdraft. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful and the pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing on wet grass near a monument. After touchdown, with excess speed to account for the gusting wind, the airplane bounced several times. During the landing roll, and with no braking action due to the wet grass, the pilot was unable to stop the airplane, which then collided with a culvert and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. While the mixture control at the carburetor was in the idle cut-off position, impact damage to the engine mount likely pulled the control to that position. While a detailed inspection of the magnetos revealed that the primary contact point gap was considerably less than specified, the investigation was unable to determine that this caused the loss of engine power.
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
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,332 hours in all; 1,426 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 2,185 as pilot in command; 388 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 13, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,239 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 12, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-U37(B) (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Montgomery County Department Of Transportation
The flight
- Departed from: GAI Gaithersburg MD at 8:20 pm
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 10:23 pm from FDK, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N52790 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.