Cessna 182 accident near Long Beach, California, August 16, 1991
On August 16, 1991 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5825B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM A PROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1991 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · 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
- N5825B · no longer on the register · serial 338265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT FENCE WHILE ATTEMPTING A RETURN TO AIRPORT MANEUVER. THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED RUNWAY 25R, OBSERVED OIL SPLATTERING ON THE WINDSHIELD, AND WAS ATTEMPTING A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED ON THE SITE BY FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS. THE INSPECTORS OPENED THE ENGINE COWLING AND OBSERVED THAT THE OIL FILLER CAP WAS OFF THE FILLER TUBE.
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: 1,965 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,192 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 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.