Cessna 182R accident near Abilene, Texas, October 12, 2015
On October 12, 2015 at about 8:50 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 182R, registered N9736H, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Abilene, Texas (Abilene Rgnl airport). It was an aerial observation 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 pilot's diverted attention while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with a fence post.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2015 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · Abilene Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R, built 1981 · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9736H · registry record · serial 18267983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taxiing on the ramp after landing and had looked to his left at the line serviceman that was "marshalling" him and the right wing struck a fence post. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The line serviceman reported that he was standing in the location where he wanted the pilot to park the airplane, with his arms raised to get the pilot's attention. The line serviceman reported that he was not giving the pilot hand signals to direct him on the ramp at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal 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
What happened, in order
- Airport occurrence during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30,682 hours in all; 7,200 in this make and model; 390 in the last 90 days; 77 in the last 30 days; 29,661 as pilot in command; 1,005 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 6, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,688 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470-U (piston); 1,519 hours total
- Operator: Brentco Aerial Patrol INC
The flight
- Departed from: GDJ Granbury TX at 6:48 pm
- Destination: GDJ Granbury TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 21 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from KABI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.