Cessna 182L accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, September 2, 1994
On September 2, 1994 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3413R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A CYLINDER HEAD SEPARATION. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE LOW CEILING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1994 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3413R · no longer on the register · serial 18258713
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS VFR-ON-TOP FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO PRODUCE A 'SEVERE VIBRATION' AND PARTIAL POWER WAS LOST. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS PROVIDED WEATHER CONDITIONS AND A HEADING TO THE INDUSTRIAL AIR PARK (ADM), ARDMORE, TEXAS, BY FLIGHT SERVICE. THE PILOT THEN CONTACTED FORT WORTH CENTER AND MADE AN IFR DESCENT THROUGH THE CLOUDS. ONCE THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEAR OF THE CLOUDS AT ABOUT 400 FEET AGL, IT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. DURING THE CONTINUED DESCENT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK ELECTRICAL WIRES AND MADE A 'CRASH LANDING' INTO A SMALL MOWED PASTURE. 'THE AIRPLANE ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET BEFORE ENTERING A VAST DEPRESSION, PASSED THROUGH A PERSIMMON THICKET, COMING TO REST INVERTED.' AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE LEFT WING SPAR AND LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED, AND A CYLINDER HEAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BARREL.
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: 2,036 hours in all; 1,296 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,741 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,953 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1994; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVT Greenville TX at 10:15 pm
- Destination: OUN Norman OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.