Cessna 182A accident near Sandy Valley, Nevada, March 25, 1990
On March 25, 1990 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N6181B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandy Valley, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR FLIGHT PLANNING AND POOR INFLIGHT DECISIONS RESULTING IN BECOMING LOST AND EXHAUSTING FUEL BEFORE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1990 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Sandy Valley, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N6181B · no longer on the register · serial 34181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER TRANSMISSION WIRES AFTER A LOSS OF POWER. THE STUDENT PILOT INDICATED THAT HE BECAME LOST AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD WHEN THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE 'DID NOT SEE THE POWER LINES' AND THAT THE COLLISION WITH THE LINES CAUSED THE CRASH.
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
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: R1R Riverside CA at 2:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 028° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 am from LAS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.