Cessna 182 accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, December 4, 1991
On December 4, 1991 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N92181, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REMOVE ALL THE WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1991 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N92181 · no longer on the register · serial 18260076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLANE LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER DURING LANDING. THE PILOT SAID HE DRAINED THE SUMPS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND REMOVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED WATER IN THE FUEL TANK, FUEL LINES , CARBURETOR AND ACCELERATION PUMP.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,127 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 24, 1991; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WST at 4:30 pm
- Destination: BID Block Island RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.