Cessna 182 accident near Lancaster, Ohio, May 4, 2026
On May 4, 2026 at about 2:41 am local time, a 1961 Cessna 182, registered N9069X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lancaster, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2026 · about 2:41 am local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 D, built 1961 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N9069X · registry record · serial 18253469
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 3, 2026, about 2241 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182D, N9069X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lancaster, Ohio. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he planned four flights the day of the accident for the purpose of building flight time. The first flight originated at Fairfield County Airport (LHQ), Lancaster, Ohio with a destination of Warren County Airport (I68), Lebanon, Ohio. The pilot completely fueled the inboard wing fuel tanks at I68, with the addition of 39 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline. He then departed I68 and returned to LHQ. From LHQ, the pilot flew to Eastern WV Regional Airport (MRB), Martinsburg, West Virginia. The accident flight, which was the fourth and final flight for the day, departed MRB destined for LHQ. About 6 miles east of the LHQ airport, about 3,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot reported a partial loss of engine power, which he described as the engine “sputtering.” The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the airplane struck trees and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A witness on the ground, near the accident site heard the airplane, and described the engine noise as a “sputtering engine at low RPM.” The airframe and engine were retained for further examination. Additionally, a JPI Fuel Scan 450 was recovered from the wreckage and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC for download.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,397.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2026; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MRB Martinsburg WV
- Destination: LHQ Lancaster OH
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LHQ, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLHQ 040153Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM BKN070 OVC090 09/05 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP148 T00940050 $=
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.