Cessna 182C accident near Keystone Hghts, Florida, July 5, 1991
On July 5, 1991 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N8875T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keystone Hghts, Florida. 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
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO FUEL SIPHONING OVERBOARD, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION TO INSURE THE FUEL CAPS WERE SECURED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INCORRECT FUEL TANK QUANTITY GAUGES AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1991 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Keystone Hghts, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8875T · registry record · serial 52775
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT BEFORE DEPARTURE THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED BUT HE DID NOT CHECK THE TANKS FOR QUANTITY OR THE CAPS FOR SECURITY. THE FLT DEPARTED & DURING CRUISE FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ON A RD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE THEN TREES & CAME TO REST. POSTCRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT FUEL SIPHONED OVERBOARD FROM THE LT FUEL TANK FILLER PORT DUE TO A DETERIORATED FUEL TANK CAP SEAL. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT THE LT & RT FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES INDICATED 1/4 & 1/2 RESPECTIVELY WHEN THE ENG QUIT.
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: 285 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,480 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1991; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A7 Hampton GA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: DED Deland FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 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.
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.