Cessna 182A accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California, September 11, 1983
On September 11, 1983 at about 2:50 am local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4812D, was substantially damaged in an accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California (South Lake Tahoe airport). It was an instructional 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
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
- September 11, 1983 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- S. Lake Tahoe, California · South Lake Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4812D · no longer on the register · serial 34912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI), HE & THE STUDENT TOOK OFF WITH 21 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. APRX 1.3 HRS. LATER, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE STUDENT TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH FOR A LANDING. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT & MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A RIVER BANK SHORT OF THE RWY. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWNM THE ACFT HIT A TREE, THEN AFTER LANDING, IT CAME TO REST IN THE RIVER, NOSE DOWN, IN 1 TO 2 FT OF WATER. NO PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE ENG WOULD CONSUME 12 GAL/HR AT 65% POWER AT 8000 FT. THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 4 HRS SINCE THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF. THE PLANE HAD A TOTAL USABLE FUEL CAPACITY OF 55 GAL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,101 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 995 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 8,544 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 360° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:33 am from TVL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.