Cessna 182M accident near Eufaula, Alabama, April 20, 2021
On April 20, 2021 at about 8:13 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 182M, registered N91606, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Eufaula, Alabama. It was a positioning 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2021 · about 8:13 pm local time
- Place
- Eufaula, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M, built 1969 · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N91606 · registry record · serial 18259841
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning 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 when the engine lost total power. The pilot selected a field for landing, during which the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. Fueling records and flight track information indicated that the airplane was most recently serviced about 4 flight hours before the accident, at which time both 40-gallon fuel tanks were filled to capacity. The airplane’s average fuel consumption rate was about 14 gallons per hour. Examination of the airplane found no fuel in either tank; examination of the accident site revealed fuel blighting of the vegetation and a strong odor of fuel in the soil beneath where the right fuel cap was located. There was no such evidence in the area beneath where the left fuel cap was located. The pilot reported that he departed with the fuel selector positioned to BOTH. Based on estimated fuel consumption calculations and the subsequent discovery of an undetermined amount of fuel spillage, it was likely that sufficient fuel was available for the flight. After recovery of the airplane, an engine start was attempted. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously until the engine was stopped using the cockpit controls. The airplane was sold before the airframe and fuel system examination could be scheduled and before the wreckage was released from the investigation, and it was disassembled by its new owner. Therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power was not determined based on the available information.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 575 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 33.5 in the last 90 days; 9.5 in the last 30 days; 525 as pilot in command; 210 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,141.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2020
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 809 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2RF Milton FL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: EUF Eufaula AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 pm from KEUF, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEUF 201958Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM BKN060 OVC100 26/11 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP138 T02560111
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 ERA21LA190.