Cessna 182 accident near Lake Tahoe, California, March 15, 1982
On March 15, 1982 at about 1:50 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5298N, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Tahoe, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1982 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Lake Tahoe, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5298N · registry record · serial 18267630
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT WHO LANDED PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE OF N5298N STATED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT HAD ACCUMULATED 1/4 INCH OF AIRFRAME ICE WHILE OVER THE LTA VOR. AN EMPLOYEE OF LAKE TAHOE AVIATION FUELING SERVICE INFORMED THE PILOT OF N5298N OF THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE CESSNA P210 THAT HAD JUST LANDED. AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT OF N5298N REPORTED ENTERING IMC AT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 FEET. HE REQUESTED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM SACRAMENTO FLIGHT SERVICE BUT WAS TOLD TO STANDBY FOR A MOMENT. FURTHER COMMUNICATION WAS NOT ESTABLISHED. ON MARCH 21, 1982 THE AIRCRAFT WAS SPOTTED AT THE 13,600-FOOT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN PEAK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 371 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Tahoe CA at 5:50 pm
- Destination: San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.