Cessna 182G accident near Orland, California, July 9, 2007
On July 9, 2007 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N4521M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orland, California (Haigh Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight inspection and preparation, and his failure to ensure adequate fuel was onboard for the anticipated flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2007 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Orland, California · Haigh Field Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4521M · no longer on the register · serial 18255142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and passenger departed the airport on a short familiarization flight. The passenger noted that the fuel gauges were reading empty but the pilot said not to pay attention to the fuel gauges. The engine sputtered and lost power about 10 miles north of the airport at 1,200 feet while in a left turn. The pilot executed a forced landing into a soft and recently plowed crop field, and the airplane nosed over. One gallon of fuel was drained from the airplane during the recovery. No airframe or engine mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified by the FAA inspector that examined the airplane wreckage.
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: 5,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne-Continental Motors O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KO37 Orland CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from KCIC, 15 miles away
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.