Cessna 182Q accident near Boerne, Texas, April 8, 1996
On April 8, 1996 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered XBCHP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boerne, Texas (Boerne Stage airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper planning/decision, and his failure to use all of available runway. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's overconfidence in the ability of the airplane, the high density altitude, the tailwind, and trees at the departure end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1996 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Boerne, Texas · Boerne Stage · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- XBCHP · no longer on the register · serial 18267536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated an intersection takeoff on runway 35 with 600 feet of runway remaining to demonstrate the improved performance of the airplane with its newly installed engine and propeller STC package. He had routinely performed this feat. However, on this flight, the airplane was considerably heavier, since there was a passenger aboard and the aircraft had just been serviced with 75 gallons of fuel. Also, the density altitude was 3,200 feet, and the winds were reported as 'light from the south.' The pilot stated that once airborne, the airplane continued to accelerate, but failed to clear trees past the departure end of the runway. The engine operation was reported as normal, and no anomalies were reported.
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 single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1996; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5C1 at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from SAT, 40 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.