Cessna 182 accident near Ojai, California, August 24, 2010
On August 24, 2010, a Cessna 182, registered N3850D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Ojai, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2010
- Place
- Ojai, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3850D · no longer on the register · serial 34550
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on the return leg of a cross-country flight and the pilot added about 16 gallons of fuel before departure. During the flight, he noticed that the alternator-out light was illuminated, and the voltmeter indicated a discharge, but this would not have affected the already-running engine. The airplane was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet mean sea level when it suddenly lost engine power; the pilot said that the power did not decrease gradually or sputter. The pilot indicated that he tried numerous methods to restart the engine without success. The direct-sight fuel gauges were indicating between the 1/4 and 1/3 levels. The airplane was losing altitude, and the pilot decided to try to land on a golf course. He left the flaps in the up position to extend his glide. During the final stage of the descent, the right wing hit a tree. After touchdown, the airplane hit a bush and spun around before coming to a stop. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The environmental conditions were not conducive to carburetor icing.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,877 hours
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCC Sacramento CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.