Cessna 182G accident near Freeland, Washington, August 9, 1999
On August 9, 1999 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N2492R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeland, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's improper use of carburetor heat and overload of the nose gear assembly during the forced landing. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions, the ditch and fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1999 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Freeland, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2492R · no longer on the register · serial 18255592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while en route to Everett at 1,800 feet above sea level he noticed a degradation of engine RPM and attempted to correct for the condition without success. Application of carburetor heat merely aggravated the RPM loss and, unable to maintain altitude, he maneuvered the aircraft to a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence and then a ditch during which the nose gear assembly separated from the airframe. Post-crash examination revealed no evidence of airframe, fuel or engine malfunction. Estimated ambient air temperature (19 degrees C.) and dew point temperature (14 degrees C.) at the aircraft's cruise altitude were consistent with moderate carburetor icing conditions.
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: 1,034 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,143 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1999; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0S9 Port Townsend WA at 8:35 pm
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAE, 9 miles away
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.