Cessna 182 accident near Coweta, Oklahoma, June 5, 1992
On June 5, 1992 at about 2:23 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5381B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coweta, Oklahoma. 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
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1992 · about 2:23 am local time
- Place
- Coweta, Oklahoma · 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
- N5381B · no longer on the register · serial 33381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY WITH SCHEDULED LANDINGS AT THREE AIRPORTS. AFTER DEPARTING THE LAST SCHEDULED STOP, CRUISE WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1,800 FEET. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER ENGINE POWER WAS LOST WITHOUT FURTHER WARNING. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE PRIOR TO SUBMERGING IN A RIVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD 25 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING PRIOR TO HIS LAST DEPARTURE. ENGINE TEARDOWN FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION.
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: 175 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,029 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1991; 146 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: H68 Wagoner OK at 2:15 am
- Destination: RVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:23 am from TUL, 20 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.