Cessna 182 accident near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, February 1, 1992
On February 1, 1992 at about 1:38 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N6444A, was destroyed in an accident near Bartlesville, Oklahoma (Frank Phillips airport). It was a business 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1992 · about 1:38 am local time
- Place
- Bartlesville, Oklahoma · Frank Phillips · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N6444A · no longer on the register · serial 3324
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DARK NIGHT APPROACH, THE PRIVATE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SEVERAL TREES AND SEVERED THE RIGHT WING SPAR AND WING FAIRING. FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF THE AIRFOIL ELEMENTS, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE ELEVATION OF THE IMPACT POINT WAS 250 FEET ABOVE THE AIRPORT ELEVATION, APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY, AND ON THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE.
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: 148 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,838 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1991; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVW Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,900 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 pm from BVO, 4 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.