Cessna 182Q accident near Mc Allen, Texas, July 29, 2002
On July 29, 2002 at about 3:53 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N4896N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mc Allen, Texas (Mcallen Miller International airport). It was a positioning flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2002 · about 3:53 pm local time
- Place
- Mc Allen, Texas · Mcallen Miller International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N4896N · no longer on the register · serial 18267443
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During his preflight inspection, the pilot determined that he had sufficient fuel (65 gallons) for the planned cross-country flight. He filed a flight time of 3 hour 15 minutes on his VFR flight plan with an en route stop for deplaning the passengers and a final destination for refueling the airplane. The actual flight time was 2.9 hours. On final approach at the destination airport, the pilot transmitted in part: "I'm declaring an emergency I'm running out of fuel." Subsequently, radar contact was lost with the airplane and there were no further transmissions from the pilot. The airplane landed in a field short of the runway. During the landing roll in the field, the airplane struck a berm, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. On the Owner/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) safety recommendation block, the pilot recommended in part "Have more fuel on board."
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: 806 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 67R Rio Grande City TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: MFE Mc Allen TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 7,120 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 21 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:08 pm from MFE, 4 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.