Cessna 182P accident near Brevard, North Carolina, May 30, 2013
On May 30, 2013 at about 8:28 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N6525M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Brevard, North Carolina (Brevard Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The cylinder manufacturer's misalignment of the exhaust valve guides in the No. 2 cylinder during manufacture, which resulted in the exhaust valve sticking and the pushrod breaking and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2013 · about 8:28 pm local time
- Place
- Brevard, North Carolina · Brevard Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N6525M · registry record · serial 18263739
- 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 the airplane was in cruise flight at 9,500 feet mean sea level when he heard a loud noise and then popping sounds coming from the engine. He then smelled smoke and saw oil trailing from the engine compartment down the outside of the airplane. As the pilot maneuvered for a forced landing at a nearby airport, the engine produced intermittent power and then lost power completely. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for landing, but the runway was obstructed by cars and farm equipment, so he landed the airplane long. After touchdown, the pilot maneuvered the airplane into a small knoll between the airport and an elementary school where it struck a berm and came to rest. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck and that its associated pushrod was bent, worn through, and fractured as a result of compression loading near its midpoint due to the stuck exhaust valve. Examination of the cylinder and its associated parts revealed that the exhaust valve guides were misaligned during manufacture, which subsequently resulted in the valve guide wearing unevenly, the valve sticking, the pushrod breaking, and the subsequent total 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
- 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)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Damaged/degraded
- cause Organizational issues › Development › Manufacture/production › (general) › Manufacturer
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2012
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 8,209 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUJ Atlanta GA at 3:20 pm
- Destination: ROA Roanoke VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KAVL, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA13LA262.