Cessna 182A accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, January 18, 1985
On January 18, 1985, a Cessna 182A, registered N5162D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita Valley airport). It was a business 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
- January 18, 1985
- Place
- Wichita Falls, Texas · Wichita Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N5162D · registry record · serial 5162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT INTENTIONALLY RAN THE RT FUEL TANK EMPTY AND SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH WAS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL ON TAKEOFF. PLT MAINTAINED A LEFT SIDE SLIP DURING THE LANDING APCH TO COMPENSATE FOR X-WIND CONDITIONS. PLT STATED, AT 400 FT AGL HE NOTICED A PWR LOSS. UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE RWY, A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD. PERSONS KNOWLEDGABLE OF THIS ACFT STATED THE ENG WILL QUIT IF THE FUEL TANK WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE DIRECTION OF THE SIDE SLIP IS NOT FULL. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE OCCURS DUE TO THE FUEL TANK OUTLET LINE BECOMING UNPORTED THUS ALLOWING AIR TO ENTER THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 415 hours in all; 212 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,400 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 11:13 pm
- Destination: F14 Wichita Falls TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.