Cessna 182B accident near Madera, California, April 12, 1991
On April 12, 1991 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N7290E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madera, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT'S FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATION WERE INACCURATE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1991 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Madera, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7290E · registry record · serial 18252290
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE INITIAL PARACHUTE JUMPING FLIGHT THE PILOT DIPPED STICKED BOTH TANKS AND DETERMINED THAT THEY CONTAINED 23 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT INACCURATELY CALCULATED THAT THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH FUEL TO CONDUCT THE INITIAL AND SECOND FLIGHT BEFORE FUELING WOULD BE REQUIRED. AFTER THE PARACHUTE JUMPER DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE ON THE SECOND FLIGHT AND DURING THE NORMAL DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A GRAPE VINEYARD BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A UNMARKED TRANSMISSION WIRE AND CRASHED DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE CONTAINED ABOUT 8 GALLONS OF FUEL, THE UNUSABLE AMOUNT FOR ALL ATTITUDES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,028 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 880 as pilot in command
- 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: 2,650 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: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX91LA174.