Cessna 182K accident near Carefree, Arizona, May 6, 1992
On May 6, 1992 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N2646R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carefree, 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
INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE ENGINE OIL WAS ON BOARD PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1992 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2646R · no longer on the register · serial 182058346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST LEVELED OFF INTO CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SPUTTER, RUN ROUGHLY, THEN IT QUIT ALTOGETHER. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A BERM DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE ENGINE SEIZED. NO OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE SUMP. THE OIL SCREEN WAS FULL OF METAL PARTICLES. THE OIL QUICK DRAIN WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL. NO OIL DEPOSITS WERE FOUND ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE AIRCRAFT AND NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE WAS NOTED TO THE SURROUNDING SOIL. THE LAST INSPECTION OR ENGINE MAINTENANCE OF RECORD WAS ENTERED IN THE LOG BOOKS WITH A DATE OF APRIL 13, 1991. THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. THE LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF RECORD WAS A THIRD CLASS MEDICAL DATED AUGUST 5, 1985.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,025 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1991; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 3:50 pm
- Destination: E69 Payson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.
Other NTSB records under N2646R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.