Cessna 182A accident near Lake Elsinore, California, March 30, 1991
On March 30, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N6315A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED ENGINE POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WS THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N6315A · registry record · serial 33115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A GLIDER TOWING MISSION AND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ROCKED THE WINGS TO MOVE THE FUEL AROUND AND HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PILOT COMPLETED A POWER-OFF FORCED LANDING TO THE ONLY OPEN AREA HE FELT HE COULD REACH. DUE TO THE SOFT SOIL IN THE AREA, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. IN HIS ORAL STATEMENT TO AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR, THE PILOT INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION AND CONSEQUENTLY COULD NOT BE EXAMINED ON SITE. THE PILOT DID NOT RETURN A COMPLETED PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT, NTSB FORM 6120.1/2.
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: 1,108 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.