Cessna 182 accident near Comfort, Texas, August 10, 1989
On August 10, 1989 at about 1:05 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5703B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Comfort, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS WHICH RESULTED FROM THE FUEL PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1989 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Comfort, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5703B · no longer on the register · serial 33730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM A PRIVATE AIRPORT WITH NO FUEL SERVICES AVAILABLE. PURPOSE OF FLIGHT WAS A CIVIL AIR PATROL LOCAL PRACTICE SESSION. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PIC ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS OF FUEL WAS AVAILABLE BY CALCULATING THE TIME FLOWN SINCE LAST FUELING AND DIP-STICKING THE TANKS. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS UNRELIABLE AND THAT THEY DID NOT FLY TO ANOTHER AIRPORT FOR FUEL BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE NECESSITATED A NIGHT RETURN. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE SECOND PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING WHILE THE PIC ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED IN A TERRACED FIELD. THE FAA COORDINATOR REPORTED LESS THAN TWO GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING AT THE SCENE.
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: 330 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 224 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,677 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1989; 4 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: TA66 Pipe Creek TX at 11:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.