Cessna 182A accident near The Gap, Arizona, February 10, 2003
On February 10, 2003 at about 9:16 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N5029D, was substantially damaged in an accident near The Gap, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total 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
- February 10, 2003 · about 9:16 pm local time
- Place
- The Gap, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N5029D · registry record · serial 51129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After flying for 1.6 hours, and while cruising at 9,500 feet msl, all engine power was lost. The pilot made a forced landing in soft desert terrain, resulting in the airplane abruptly decelerating in a nose down attitude. According to the pilot, the airplane's fuel tanks were full when she initiated the flight. En route, the sky was clear of clouds. The pilot stated that when the mishap occurred, she felt a "slight shudder and noticed that the sound of the engine went to idle." The pilot reportedly applied full carburetor heat, enrichened the mixture, and repositioned the fuel selector to the "both tanks" position. However, engine power was not restored, and the propeller continued rotating at idle speed throughout the forced landing. Subsequently, the airplane's engine was examined. It was run up to full power, and no evidence of any mechanical abnormality was found. The cause of the nonmechanical loss of engine power was not determined.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,451 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 1,347 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,803 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 17, 2002; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: A09 Bullhead City AZ at 7:40 pm
- Destination: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from GCN, 45 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.