Cessna 182P accident near Princeton, New Jersey, January 1, 1991
On January 1, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N4675K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Princeton, New Jersey (Princeton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT RESULTING IN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. FACTORS WERE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND OBSTRUCTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, New Jersey · Princeton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N4675K · no longer on the register · serial 18263676
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 28 AT PRINCETON AIRPORT, AT ABOUT 800 FEET, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE MADE A RIGHT TURN AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN A CLEARED FIELD ADJACENT TO THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 28. AS HE APPROACHED GROUND LEVEL, HE BANKED LEFT TO AVOID A LARGE TREE IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT WING. THE LEFT WING TIP, LEFT MAIN GEAR, AND NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE HIT THE GROUND. ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE. THE FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: 755 hours in all; 461 in this make and model; 649 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,636 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1990; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,105 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.