Cessna C182A accident near Pepperell, Massachusetts, July 7, 1990
On July 7, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna C182A, registered N5093D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pepperell, Massachusetts. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED JAMMED FLAPS AND A POWER LOSS DUE TO THE FUEL SELECTOR BEING IMPROPERLY POSITIONED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pepperell, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C182A
- Registration
- N5093D · no longer on the register · serial 51193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE WING FLAPS JAMMED IN THE MID RANGE POSITION. THE PARACHUTIST ON BOARD EXITED THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT RETURNED FOR A LANDING. HE EXTENDED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND WHILE ON BASE LEG, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND WAS BEYOND GLIDING DISTANCE TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A FIELD, DOWNWIND. THE FAA REPORTED THE FLAPS WERE JAMMED DUE TO A BROKEN FLAP SUPPORT ON THE INBOARD LEFT FLAP TRACK AND THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN SATISFACTORY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. FUEL WAS REPORTED TO BE AT THE 1/4 LEVEL. THE POWER LOSS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SELECTOR BEING IMPROPERLY POSITION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,535 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 1,193 as pilot in command; 410 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Observation at 6:30 pm
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.