Cessna 182P accident near Watsonville, California, December 15, 2003
On December 15, 2003 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N1595M, was destroyed in an accident near Watsonville, California (Watsonville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. A contributing factor was the pilot/owner's failure to comply with the appropriate Airworthiness Directive.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 2003 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Watsonville, California · Watsonville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1595M · registry record · serial 182-64385
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane lost engine power shortly after takeoff and collided with the ground as the pilot was attempting a return to runway maneuver. The pilot said that the engine was running a little rough on the first run up but it smoothed out on the second run up. He performed a normal takeoff and climb. The engine was running smooth then quit suddenly between 200 and 300 feet above ground level (agl). Because there were houses directly beyond the end of the runway he entered an immediate left descending 90-degree turn and leveled the wings before impacting the ground. Post accident fluid samples were taken and water was found in the right main fuel tank, gascolator, and carburetor bowl. The fuel filler cap o-rings were hardened and cracked, and the fuel tank filler ports showed rust stains around the interior perimeter of the port with rust corrosion on the interior filler flanges. The airplane had been delivered to the airport by the pilot in July for its annual inspection, and to be placed for sale. The airplane remained tied down outside without significant flight activity until the accident flight. Airworthiness Directive (AD) 83-12-01 was last complied with in July 2002. AD 83-12-01 dictates that a placard stating "CAUTION Leaking fuel caps can cause loss of fuel and erroneously high fuel quantity indications" be placed adjacent to the fuel quantity gauges. Additionally, it indicates that the fuel caps, seals, and filler ports should be inspected for indications of improper sealing or leaking. Examination of the cockpit revealed no such placards were present, adjacent to the fuel quantity gauges, as required by AD-83-12-01.
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
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 19, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,672.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2003; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KWVI Watsonville CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: KWVI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 3,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 3031.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KWVI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.