Cessna 182L accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, April 30, 1990
On April 30, 1990, a Cessna 182L, registered N42748, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona (Bullhead City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND FUEL CALCULATIONS WERE POOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1990
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Bullhead City
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N42748 · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND THE PLT LANDED ON A HIGHWAY. THE LANDING WAS SUCCESSFUL BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A TRUCK AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE PLT DISMANTLED AND REMOVED THE AIRPLANE BEFORE NOTIFYING THE NTSB OR THE FAA. THE PLT CLAIMED THAT THE LEFT WING FUEL CAP BROKE SOMETIME IN FLT BUT FAILED TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY BOARD WITH THE FAILED CAP OR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. THE PLT'S ACTION INDICATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO MITIGATE THE ACCIDENT WHEN HE PURPOSELY REMOVED AND DISMANTLED THE WRECKAGE. THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLT PLANNING AND PREPARATION AND HIS MISCALCULATIONS OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL CONSUMPTION.
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--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: L15 Henderson NV at 10:30 pm
- Destination: P06
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:45 pm from EED
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.