Cessna 182 accident near Apple Valley, California, December 19, 2016
On December 19, 2016 at about 2:40 am local time, a 1956 Cessna 182, registered N5954B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). It was a personal flight 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 mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a subsequent hard, off-airport landing and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2016 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A, built 1956 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5954B · no longer on the register · serial 33954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that, after traveling about 270 nautical miles (nm) to the destination airport, the pilot-controlled lighting would not illuminate when activated. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport that was 40 nm to the northeast, but the pilot reported that runway lighting was not available at the alternate airport. The pilot reported that he decided to fly about 70 nm southwest to another alternate airport, but the engine quit even though the fuel indicator showed that 1/4 tank of fuel remained. He reported that he entered a descending left turn, that he leveled the wings with no flaps, and that the airspeed was about 52 kts. The pilot recalled that the airplane landed hard and nosed over after the nose landing gear and propeller struck a berm. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the firewall, and empennage. During the airplane recovery, the fuel selector was photographed in the right wing tank position. The left tank did not have any fuel in the tank, and the right tank contained about 2 cups of fuel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) avionics inspector present during the examination of the airplane's radios and antennas, no failures or malfunctions were identified. According to the FAA Airport Facility Directory, both the destination and diversion airports were equipped with medium intensity runway lighting, and the first airport the pilot diverted from was equipped with precision approach path indicator lights. No NOTAMS pertaining to lighting were issued at these airports on the date of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,016 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4,016 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,734.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 (piston); 1,380 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WVI Watsonville CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: DAG Barstow CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KAPV, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Avionics Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.