Cessna 182B accident near Houston, Texas, August 20, 1999
On August 20, 1999 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N7277E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (Clover Field). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power as a result of fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper fuel management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1999 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Clover Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7277E · no longer on the register · serial 52277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot and witnesses, he executed a banner drop in the designated drop zone at 200 feet agl paralleling runway 32L. The airplane was climbing through 400 feet agl on the crosswind leg for runway 32L, when the engine experienced a loss of power over a wooded area north of the airport. The pilot banked left toward the airport and initiated a forced landing. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest 600 feet north of runway 4. Initial responders to the accident site reported that there was 'no fuel spill at the crash site.' Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was in the 'RIGHT TANK' position. The right wing fuel tank contained approximately 2 gallons of fuel and the left wing tank contained 25 gallons of fuel. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the useable fuel for level flight only is 3.5 gallons.
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: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,386 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 1999; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L32B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVJ at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32L, 4,302 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from HOU, 10 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.