Cessna 182C accident near Brownfield, Texas, April 2, 2000
On April 2, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N9055T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownfield, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane. A factor was the pilot's diverted attention toward people on the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brownfield, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9055T · no longer on the register · serial 52955
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying over a suspected oil leak in a pipeline. Witnesses stated that the airplane was circling low (approximately 500 feet agl) over the suspected oil leak. According to the witnesses, the pilot was attempting to get their attention. They observed the airplane in a '60-90 degree bank to the left.' The witnesses stated that the airplane lost altitude while in the turn until it 'flew into the ground,' impacting on the left wing and cartwheeling. The pilot told the FAA inspector that he could not remember the event. The FAA inspector stated that the pilot's attention was diverted to the witnesses, and that the pilot 'had stalled or was about to stall the aircraft in this high bank angle.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 968 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 891 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2000; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNK Snyder TX at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:13 pm from LBB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.