Cessna 182RG accident near Odessa, Texas, May 13, 1985
On May 13, 1985 at about 2:05 am local time, a Cessna 182RG, registered N737ZL, was destroyed in an accident near Odessa, Texas (Schlemeyer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 13, 1985 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Schlemeyer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182RG · all 182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N737ZL · no longer on the register · serial R18200899
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING AT APPROX 100' AGL, THE ACFT STRUCK A 5/8' STATIC LINE ON A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED POWERLINE. THE CABLE WAS NOT YET ANCHORED, EXCEPT WITH PULLEY'S ON EACH TOWER AND HAD ABOUT TWO MILES OF SLACK. THE WIRE ENGAGED THE LEFT FRONT ENG COWL AND 1 PROP BLADE. THE CABLE WAS PULLED DOWN ALMOST TO THE GROUND AND WHEN IT BACKLASHED IT SHATTERED A TELEPHONE POLE, THE ACFT IMPACTED ON THE MEDIAN OF AN INTERSTATE. WITNESSES HAD OBSERVED THE ACFT MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE IN THE AREA FOR SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT DUSK, WITH THE PILOT FLYING SOUTHWEST INTO THE REMAINING SUN LIGHT. CONDITIONS WOULD HAVE MADE OBSERVATION OF THE CABLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
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: 600 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: E02 at 1:40 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 am from MAF, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.