Cessna 182E accident near Southwick, Massachusetts, May 13, 2013
On May 13, 2013 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna 182E, registered N817JT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Southwick, Massachusetts (Cannizzaro Field Arpt). It was a personal 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 partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2013 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Southwick, Massachusetts · Cannizzaro Field Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E, built 1962 · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N817JT · no longer on the register · serial 18254397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed with sufficient fuel for the flight. The airplane was in cruise flight when the engine started losing power and running roughly. He enriched the fuel mixture and applied carburetor heat (the weather conditions were right on the edge for potential for carburetor icing), but the engine continued to run roughly. The pilot then switched the fuel selector from both tanks to the left tank, and the engine momentarily ran smoothly; however, the engine again started running roughly. The pilot then switched the fuel selector from the left to the right tank and then back to both tanks, but the engine continued to run roughly. He then decided to perform a precautionary landing with a tailwind because he did not have the time or altitude to turn to land into the wind. The pilot's decision to land with a tailwind was appropriate given the partial loss of engine power. The airplane landed about halfway down the runway, departed the left side of the runway, and impacted the raised edge of a road, resulting in the nose landing gear breaking off. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. After the accident, fuel was found spilled out of the airplane, which indicates that the airplane had some fuel on board; however, the amount could not be determined. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,580 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 2012; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUU Newport RI at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 1B1 Hudson NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from BDL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.