Cessna 182 accident near Owasso, Oklahoma, April 27, 1989
On April 27, 1989 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5160D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Owasso, Oklahoma (Gundy'S airport). 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION FROM LACK OF FUEL. THE PRESENCE OF TREES WAS WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1989 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Owasso, Oklahoma · Gundy'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5160D · registry record · serial 182-51260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG A PREFLIGHT, THE PLT CHECKED THE FUEL GAUGES, BUT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANKS. WHILE IN FLT, ABOUT 5 MI FROM THE DESTINATION, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE DESTINATION ARPT, SO HE TRIED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. HOWEVER, HE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO CLEAR OVER TREES BEFORE REACHING THE FIELD. THE ACFT HIT A TREETOP, THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. AN EXAM AFTER THE ACDNT REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE WING TANKS OR GASCOLATOR.
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: 214 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 1:45 pm
- Destination: OK16 Owasso OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 pm from TUL, 8 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.