Cessna 180J accident near Lebanon, New Hampshire, May 14, 1997
On May 14, 1997 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N4992V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, New Hampshire (Lebanon Municipal airport). It was a personal 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1997 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, New Hampshire · Lebanon Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N4992V · no longer on the register · serial 18052334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during takeoff climb, at about 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He headed for a highway to make an emergency landing. The pilot stated as he got closer, he realized there was a lot of traffic, so he decided to land on the embankment off the right side of the highway. The airplane touched down, continued for about 100 feet, nosed over onto the highway. Examination of the airplane, which included a test run of the engine, did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,641 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1997; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO550-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: New London NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from LEB, 1 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.