Cessna 182 accident near Orland, California, September 3, 1994
On September 3, 1994 at about 5:00 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5449B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orland, California (Haigh Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW CHECKLIST PROCEDURES TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE BOTH FUEL TANKS POSITION. FUEL STARVATION AND THE DARK NIGHT WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1994 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Orland, California · Haigh Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5449B · no longer on the register · serial 33449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A 4-HOUR FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A LEFT BANKING TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK POSITION AND HE SAID HE BELIEVES THE MANEUVER CAUSED THE FUEL TO UNPORT AND THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE'S WING STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1993; 133 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YKM Yakima WA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.