Cessna 182H accident near Wenatchee, Washington, August 10, 1990
On August 10, 1990 at about 11:23 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N2473X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE OIL FILTER GASKET BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE OIL AND SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1990 · about 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2473X · no longer on the register · serial 18256373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AND THE PILOT NOTED THAT OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO O. THE PILOT TURNED AROUND TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT; HOWEVER, EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. DURING THE POST CRASH INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OIL GASKET WAS CREASED OR FOLDED OVER APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY AROUND THE OUTER EDGE AND A SMALL NOTCH OF THE RUBBER WAS MISSING FROM THE OUTER EDGE. THE FILTER AND OIL HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED ON THE AIRPLANE AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THAT MAINTENANCE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,337 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 1990; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: TIW Tacoma WA
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.