Cessna 182Q accident near Pacoima, California, November 10, 1990
On November 10, 1990 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N759ED, was destroyed in an accident near Pacoima, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 1990 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N759ED · no longer on the register · serial 18265927
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE JUST AFTER TAKEOFF. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PROPELLER WAS STOPPED AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TOWARD A CITY STREET. IT IMPACTED ON THE ROOF OF A COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING BUILDING, THEN CONTINUED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. A SMALL QUANTITY OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE PRIMER LINE WHICH WAS SIMILAR IN COLOR AND SMELL TO AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS ON THE AIRPORT STATED THAT THE PILOT USED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE, AND THAT HE HAD REFUELED FROM FIVE GALLON GAS CANS HE BROUGHT TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE PERMITTING THE USE OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 711 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MMH Mammoth CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:46 pm from BUR, 3 miles away
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.