Cessna 182G accident near Brandon, Florida, February 25, 1984
On February 25, 1984 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N7388S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brandon, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1984 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Brandon, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N7388S · registry record · serial 18255836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 MOS WITH A PARTIAL FUEL LOAD. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, 40 GAL OF AUTO FUEL WAS ADDED & BOTH WING TANK SUMPS & THE GASCOLATOR WERE DRAINED WITH ONLY A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF WATER FOUND. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR BOWL WAS ABOUT HALF FULL OF WATER & WATER WAS FOUND IN THE LINE FROM THE GASCOLATOR TO THE CARBURETOR. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED WRINKLES 0R RIDGES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RUBBER CELLS, SUFFICIENT TO TRAP WATER & KEEP IT FROM FLOWING TO THE TANK SUMPS FOR NORMAL DRAINING. THE FUEL CELLS HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON 12/15/78 & THE PLT WAS AWARE OF THE WRINKLES. AUTO FUEL WAS APPROVED FOR USE IN THIS ACFT PER STC.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,871 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2,638 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1983; 50 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: X18 Brandon FL at 8:04 pm
- Destination: PBI West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TPA, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N7388S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA84LA094.