Cessna 182P accident near Haskell, Oklahoma, November 16, 1994
On November 16, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N5931J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Haskell, Oklahoma (Haskell airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL. FACTORS WERE THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES RESULTING IN FUEL CONTAMINATION, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE 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
- November 16, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Haskell, Oklahoma · Haskell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5931J · no longer on the register · serial 18263582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 35, APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON THE FIELD WEST OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'THE MAIN GEAR FIRST CONTACTED THE GROUND 150 FEET FROM THE WESTERN TREE LINE. BRAKING ON THE WET GRASS WAS INEFFECTIVE AND IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE PLANE IMPACTED THE TREE LINE.' THE AIRPLANE HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 15, 1994, DURING WHICH BOTH FUEL CAPS AND CAP ADAPTERS HAD BEEN REPLACED. WHILE THIS MAINTENANCE WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED, THE AIRPLANE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HANGAR WHEN ACTUAL WORK WAS NOT BEING PERFORMED, WITH THE FUEL CAPS AND CAP ADAPTERS NOT INSTALLED. DURING PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE FOR THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE PILOT FOUND WATER IN FOUR FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE FUEL STRAINER. ON THE FIFTH, SIXTH, AND SEVENTH FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR, APPROXIMATELY 4 OUNCES OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR BOWL AND GASCOLATOR. THE ENGINE WAS DISPLACED AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,383 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 151 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,299 as pilot in command; 560 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,480 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1994; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MKO Muskogee OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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.