Cessna 182Q accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, December 6, 1993
On December 6, 1993 at about 9:39 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N96666, was destroyed in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts (Nantucket Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE DUE TO ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1993 · about 9:39 pm local time
- Place
- Nantucket, Massachusetts · Nantucket Memorial
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N96666 · no longer on the register · serial 66800
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOWER CONTROLLER REPORTED THAT AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 24, HE NOTICED IT CIRCLING 1/2 MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CONTROLLER RADIOED THE PILOT, BUT THERE WAS NO REPLY. THE CONTROLLER LATER NOTICED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AT A LOWER ALTITUDE SHORTLY BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.27%.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,004 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1993; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: HFD Hartford CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from ACK
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.