Cessna 182E accident near Humbolt, Nevada, December 22, 1983
On December 22, 1983 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 182E, registered CGCGA, was destroyed in an accident near Humbolt, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- December 22, 1983 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Humbolt, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- CGCGA · no longer on the register · serial 18253918
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY FLT IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN. IMPACT OCCURRED AT THE 8200 FT LEVEL IN PRINCE ROYAL CANYON. THE CANYON SLOPED UPWARD TO THE SOUTH & TERMINATED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 8900 FT. THE ACFT WAS ON AN EASTERLY HEADING IN A SLIGHT LEFT BANK WHEN IT CRASHED.ACCORDING TO AN NTSB METEOROLOGICAL SUMMERY, THE CLOUD BASES WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR THE 7000 FT LEVEL IN THAT AREA.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,605 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALW Walla Walla WA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: ANO Reno NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.