Cessna 182 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, May 6, 1991
On May 6, 1991 at about 7:18 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N4996D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE TO ASSURE THE ENGINE CONTAINED AN ADEQUATE OIL SUPPLY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS TOTAL FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1991 · about 7:18 am local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N4996D · no longer on the register · serial 51096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CONTACTED PHX APPROACH CONTROL AND REQUESTED AND RECEIVED RADAR ADVISORIES TO DEER VALLEY AIRPORT (DVT). WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 7 MILES WEST OF DVT RADAR ADVISORIES WERE TERMINATED. MOMENTS LATER THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE COCKPIT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND HE WAS GOING TO LAND ON A ROAD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT THE NO. 4 CONNECTING ROD FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE INTACT ENGINE OIL SUMP DID NOT CONTAIN ANY OIL NOR WAS THERE EVIDENCE OF OIL STAINS ON THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE OR WINGS.
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
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,752 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1990; 206 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:01 am from PHX, 1 miles away
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.