Cessna 182R accident near Dayton, Nevada, August 24, 1982
On August 24, 1982 at about 11:00 am local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N9968H, was destroyed in an accident near Dayton, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- August 24, 1982 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Dayton, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9968H · no longer on the register · serial 18268151
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 0130 THE PLT & 4 COMPANIONS WERE EVICTED FROM THE COCKTAIL LOUNGE AT CARSON CITY ARPT FOR BEING DRUNK & DISORDERLY. AFTER THE LOUNGE CLOSED THEY CONTINUED THEIR DRINKING ON THE ACFT RAMP WHERE THE PLT & ONE COMPANION ATTEMPTED TO STEAL A TWIN-ENG ULTRALIGHT. AFTER STARTING ONE ENG THEY WERE UNABLE TO START THE OTHER & ABORTED THE ULTRALIGHT THEFT. N9968H WAS REPORTED STOLEN ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE FOLLOWING DAY & FOUND AT 1815 ON 8/26. THE PLT WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO IN 1977 BUT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY FLT INSTRUCTION HAVING BEEN GIVEN TO THE PLT SINCE THE ENDORSEMENT. THE PLT'S LIVER TISSUE FLUID ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 143 MG% & THE PASSENGER'S 178 MG%. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN DESERT TERRAIN AT NIGHT.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 82 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Carson Tahoe Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Carson City NV at 2:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 135°F (57°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.