Cessna 182A accident near Tekoa, Washington, June 2, 1990
On June 2, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4944D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tekoa, Washington (Willard Fld airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE DESCENDING FOR LANDING IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tekoa, Washington · Willard Fld · 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
- N4944D · registry record · serial 51044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING A PARACHUTE DROP, THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE DESCENDING TO THE PATTERN, BUT TURNED IT OFF DURING THE EXTENDED DOWN WIND. WHEN ON SHORT FINAL, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE AIRPORT AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 73S
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,261 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N4944D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.