Cessna 182R accident near Bradenton, Florida, June 4, 1998
On June 4, 1998 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N9846H, was destroyed in an accident near Bradenton, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during climb after a low level observation flight resulting in the aircraft entering into a stall and descending uncontrolled until it crashed into trees and a river.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1998 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bradenton, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9846H · no longer on the register · serial 18268066
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was for the purpose of pipeline observation. Witnesses observed the aircraft climb at a steep angle with full engine power at the point pipeline personnel stated the observation of the pipeline would have been completed. The aircraft's wing and nosed then dropped and the aircraft descended and was lost from sight behind trees. The engine noise, which was still at full power, ceased suddenly followed by the sound of impact into a river. Post crash examination showed the aircraft collided with trees and then crashed into a river while descending in a nose down attitude at a slow speed. Post crash examination of the engine, airframe, and flight controls showed no evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. Postmortem examination and toxicology testing of specimens from the pilot and two passengers showed no findings that could be considered causal to the accident.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,154 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 172 in the last 30 days; 1,027 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,545 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 4, 1998; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GIF Winter Haven FL at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from SRQ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.