Cessna 182 accident near Lincoln, Illinois, July 11, 2018
On July 11, 2018 at about 7:37 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N2394G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Lincoln, Illinois. 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 improper preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2018 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 B · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2394G · no longer on the register · serial 51694
- 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 departed with 60 gallons of fuel, and about 5 hours into an aerial observation flight, the airplane was not responding to throttle inputs, and he decided to head toward a nearby airport to land. He descended to 2,000 ft, the engine experienced a total power loss, and he realized he was not going to be able to glide to the destination airport. He turned toward a field, and about 50 ft above ground, the airplane started gaining power and climbed to 100 ft. The engine experienced another power loss, and he turned 180° toward the interstate, and the engine surged a second time before losing power again. During the forced landing on the interstate, the airplane struck a car and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the road. Video provided by the Federal Aviation Administration showed no fuel drained from the left fuel tank and less than 1/2 cup of fuel drained from the right fuel tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 724.5 hours in all; 30.1 in this make and model; 193.1 in the last 90 days; 30.3 in the last 30 days; 489.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 29, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kilo Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: C75 Lacon IL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: AAA Lincoln IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KAAA, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 11, 2018. 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 | Accident 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.