Cessna 182N accident near San Ardo, California, February 23, 1992
On February 23, 1992 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N8948G, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Ardo, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL AND THE SOFT SOIL LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1992 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Ardo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N8948G · registry record · serial 60488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 182 NOSED OVER IN A SOFT SOIL CULTIVATED FIELD AFTER EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHILE THE PILOT WAS SURVEYING A WHEAT FIELD THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE AERIAL SPRAYED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PILOT FOLLOWED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER BUT TO NO AVIAL. HE THEN SELECTED THE CULTIVATED FIELD AS A FORCED LANDING AREA. DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER, BUT THE PILOT IN COMMAND ELECTED NOT TO CHANCE ANOTHER LOSS OF POWER AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE OFF AIRPORT PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER WHEN THE NOSE GEAR SANK IN THE SOFT SOIL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY THE OPERATOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATIONALLY TESTED AND RAN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE OPERATOR BELIEVES WATER MAY HAVE CONTAMINATED THE FUEL SYSTEM AFTER RECENT RAINS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,636 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: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Soil Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: KIC King City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
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 | |||
| Passengers | 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.