Cessna 182A accident near Kapowsin, Washington, November 8, 2003
On November 8, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N2106G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kapowsin, Washington. It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor to the accident was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kapowsin, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N2106G · no longer on the register · serial 51406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After completing a flight with a load of skydivers, the pilot "dipped" the left tank and it indicated 15 gallons of fuel. He then flew another flight to 3,500 feet MSL and started his descent. The pilot reduced power to 1,600 rpm and 16 inches of manifold pressure, and applied full carburetor heat. As the aircraft was approaching pattern altitude, approximately 1,000 AGL, the engine quit without warning. The pilot successfully restarted the engine but it quit a second time, necessitating an off-airport forced landing. The aircraft impacted trees and came to rest in treetops approximately 2 miles east of the destination airport. Post accident examination of the airframe, engine, and carburetor revealed no anomalies which would have prevented normal operations.
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: 1,360 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,280 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,825 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2003; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kapowin Air Supports Ltd.
The flight
- Departed from: 86WA Kapowsin WA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 19,300 ft; a few clouds at 6,700 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from TCM, 12 miles away
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.