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Accidents · NTSB FTW92LA097 · Final report

Cessna R182RG accident near Little Rock, Arkansas, March 26, 1992

On March 26, 1992 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna R182RG, registered N5529S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Little Rock, Arkansas (Adams Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND THE PILOT'S DELAYED APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH WERE HIGHLY CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL TO EXECUTE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 26, 1992 · about 2:30 pm local time
Place
Little Rock, Arkansas · Adams Field · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna R182RG · all R182RGs on the register
Registration
N5529S · registry record · serial R1821597
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. DESPITE EFFORTS BY THE PILOT TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, INCLUDING APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A MUDDY FIELD. DURING ROLLOUT THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND, PARTIALLY COLLAPSING THE NOSE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER ON ITS BACK. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE HIGHLY CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.

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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 220 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: rgt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,326 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1992; 19 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: HKA Blytheville AR at 1:20 pm
  • Flight plan: VFR
  • Runway 18, 5,124 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
  • Visibility: 6 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 1:50 pm from LIT, 2 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers2

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.