Cessna 182P accident near Nampa, Idaho, August 9, 1994
On August 9, 1994 at about 5:20 am local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N20818, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nampa, Idaho. It was a business 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
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO VERIFY THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION DURING THE APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM THE PUBLISHED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR AN ENGINE-OUT SITUATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS A TRANSMISSION WIRE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1994 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Nampa, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N20818 · registry record · serial 18261230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) STATED THAT HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE CONTROL FROM THE 'RIGHT TANK' POSITION TO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE 'BOTH TANK' POSITION AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE AIRPORT FOR A NIGHT LANDING. THE PIC HAD ACTUALLY TURNED THE CONTROL TO THE 'OFF' POSITION. HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE POSITION OF THE CONTROL WHEN HE FIRST MOVED IT, NOR DID HE CHECK IT AGAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING AS PER THE AIRPLANE'S PUBLISHED EMERGENCY PROCEDURE CHECKLIST. THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 454 hours in all; 63 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U76 Mountain Home ID at 5:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:20 am
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 N20818 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.