Cessna 182H accident near Prescott, Arizona, May 5, 2008
On May 5, 2008 at about 4:00 am local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N6320B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Prescott, Arizona. 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
A loss of engine power from fuel starvation due to the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system and failure to select a tank containing fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2008 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6320B · no longer on the register · serial 34220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a nighttime cross-country flight from northern Nevada to Arizona. After 4 hours 10 minutes of flight, the engine lost power, and despite multiple efforts, would not restart. The pilot verified that the magneto switch and fuel selector were set to the "both" position and he applied full rich mixture. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an unlit area adjacent to his position and impacted terrain in a nose low attitude resulting in structural damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot added that prior to departure, he had topped off both wing fuel tanks and had about 5 to 7 gallons in a reserve fuel tank. During recovery of the airplane, 15 gallons of fuel were drained from the right wing fuel tank and no fuel was found in the left wing fuel tank. The fuel system was found to be intact. After recovery of the airplane, the left wing fuel tank was fueled using 6 of the 15 gallons that were removed initially from the right tank. The engine was started and ran for 10 minutes through a wide range of power settings with the fuel selector valve positioned on the right and both settings.
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 starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 123 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,595 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMEV Minden NV at 11:50 pm
- Destination: KPRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KPRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.