Cessna 182 accident near Fire Island, New York, October 15, 2021
On October 15, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N759AC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fire Island, New York. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fire Island, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 Q · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N759AC · registry record · serial 18265830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight about 1,200 ft mean sea level when the engine started to lose power. He checked the fuel selector mixture control positions were correct, but the engine experienced a total loss of power. He applied carburetor heat and attempted to restart the engine. When he was unable to restore engine power, he performed a forced landing to a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane contacted a hump in the sand, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at a glide power settings. Given that the pilot reported that the airplane was is in cruise flight when the loss of engine power occurred, it is unlikely that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 232 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,358 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 3,120 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from ISP, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KISP 151856Z 18010KT 10SM FEW050 FEW250 25/16 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02500156 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot/operator Report Form (Pilot) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot/operator Report Form (Owner) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photo's | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Carb Ice Chart | picture | View Download |
| 8 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.