Cessna 182C accident near Apple Valley, California, January 31, 1985
On January 31, 1985 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N9018T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- January 31, 1985 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9018T · no longer on the register · serial 52918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER THE LEFT DOWNWIND LEG AT A LOW ALT OF ABOUT 200 FT AGL. THE ENGINE STOPPED COMPLETELY, & THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY, BUT IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORT & TO THE LEFT OF THE APCH END OF THE RWY. WING FLAPS WERE FOUND FULLY RETRACTED. FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH WING TANKS, BUT THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED ONLY A FEW DROPS OF FUEL. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1984; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Adventist Layworkers INC
The flight
- Departed from: E24 Wickenburg AZ at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from VCV, 10 miles away
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.