Cessna 182 accident near Bermuda Dunes, California, June 8, 1991
On June 8, 1991 at about 4:04 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N7299E, was destroyed in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, California (Bermuda Dunes airport). 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL, AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FOULED IGNITION POINTS, CONTAMINATED FUEL, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1991 · about 4:04 pm local time
- Place
- Bermuda Dunes, California · Bermuda Dunes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N7299E · no longer on the register · serial 52299
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFT OFF. AFTER THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE RUNWAY'S DEPARTURE END THE PILOT BEGAN A 180 TURN TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SAND AND OTHER DEBRIS WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE MECH DRAINED THE FUEL BUT DID NOT REMOVE THE TANK AT THE OWNER'S REQUEST. THE OWNER THEN ADDED AUTO GAS AND RETURNED TO THE AIRPLANE'S HOME BASE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLSD SAND AND OTHER DEBRIS WERE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM & THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS INOP. BUT THE TACHOMETER INDICATED 2450 PRM AND THE PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED EXTENSIVE POWER AT IMPACT SIGNATURES.
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
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: LHU Lake Havasu AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,000 ft by 70 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.