Cessna 182P accident near Auburn, California, April 14, 1983
On April 14, 1983 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N333LK, was destroyed in an accident near Auburn, California (Auburn Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 14, 1983 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N333LK · no longer on the register · serial 18262231
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THIS FLT, THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR TWO MONTHS OR REFUELED IN FIVE MONTHS. DURING THAT PERIOD, IT HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO UNUSUALLY HEAVY AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON 1/12/82 & 77 HRS HAD BEEN FLOWN SINCE THAT TIME. ON 3/17/83, THE ACFT HAD BEEN TAXIED FROM ITS TIE-DOWN TO A MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR ANOTHER ANNUAL INSPECTION. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, IT HAD NOT BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE SINCE THE FACILITY HAD FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL FILTER & CARB, AND HAD PLANNED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE FUEL SYS. THE OWNER ASSUMED THAT THE ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETE SINCE HE HAD RECEIVED AN INVOICE FOR THE SERVICE. DURING A PREFLIGHT, HE DRAINED THE SUMPS. SOME WATER WAS FOUND, BUT THE SUMPS WERE DRAINED UNTIL ONLY FUEL FLOWED. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AT APRX 200 FT AGL & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARB, FUEL SELECTOR & STRAINER, & LEFT TANK. ALSO, THE O-RINGS IN THE FUEL CAPS WERE WORN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 725 hours in all; 369 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1982; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R-25A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.