Cessna 182P accident near Livermore, California, July 30, 1994
On July 30, 1994 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N20707, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED MARGIN WHILE MANEUVERING AND HIS SUBSEQUENT ENTRY INTO AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR WAS FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE PROPER FUEL TANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1994 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N20707 · registry record · serial 18261143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During climbout, the engine began to run rough. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the both to the right position and attempted to make a 180-degree turn back to the airport, but did not have sufficient power or altitude available to reach the runway. Witnesses reported that the aircraft stalled at low altitude and impacted in an open field approximately 500 feet short of the runway departure end. After the crash, fuel was observed seeping from the left main fuel tank vent line. Recovery personnel drained about 15 gallons of fuel from the left main tank. The aircraft's fuel selector switch was positioned on the right main fuel tank. There was no visible fuel in that tank. No mechanical abnormalities were identified during an examination of the engine and related systems. There were no leaks or blockages found in any of the fuel lines or either tank.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,800 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 203 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,623 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1994; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 5,255 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from LVK
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.