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Accidents · NTSB FTW83LA151 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 182RG accident near Sheffield, Texas, March 13, 1983

On March 13, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182RG, registered N1739R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheffield, Texas (Sheffield). It was a personal 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).

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
March 13, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
Place
Sheffield, Texas · Sheffield · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 182RG · all 182RGs on the register
Registration
N1739R · no longer on the register · serial R18200542
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A RANCH STRIP, THE ENG LOST POWER DURING A TURN, THEN STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE PLT LEVELED THE WINGS. HE MANEUVER OVER THE STRIP & THE ENG CUT OUT TWO MORE TIMES. THE ACFT DESCEND INTO GRASSY TERRAIN, BUT HIT A ROCK & DAMAGED THE NOSE GEAR. WRINKLES WERE FOUND IN THE WING FUEL BLADDERS, BUT WRECKAGE RECOVERY PERSONNEL FAILED TO NOTE WHETHER THERE WAS WATER IN THE TANKS.

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: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 200 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 20 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: VFR
  • Runway 36, 4,000 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Other NTSB records under N1739R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1985-07-07FTW85LA277 · accident near Midland, TX · substantial damage · minor injuries

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.