Cessna C182R accident near Big Spring, Texas, June 19, 1991
On June 19, 1991 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna C182R, registered N5459E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Spring, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1991 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Spring, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C182R
- Registration
- N5459E · registry record · serial 18268324
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL PIPELINE SURVEY, WHEN AN EYEWITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TO PULL UP INTO A STEEP CLIMB, EXECUTE A WING OVER TYPE MANEUVER, FOLLOWED BY A STEEP DIVE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A WINGS LEVEL, SLIGHTLY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE INITIAL IMPACT SCARS AND PROPELLER STRIKES INDICATED A HIGH VERTICAL SINK RATE. THE FORWARD VELOCITY WAS APPROXIMATELY 142 KNOTS BASED UPON THE PROPELLER SLASH MARKS. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOTAL GROUND TRAVEL WAS 285 FEET EXCLUDING THE MAIN WHEEL ASSEMBLIES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,507 hours in all; 315 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,768 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 15, 1991; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-47OU-11 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cosden Pipeline Company
The flight
- Departed from: 21XS Big Spring TX at 12:45 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.