Cessna 182C accident near Reno, Nevada, January 23, 2010
On January 23, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N8948T, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Reno, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise due to oil starvation as a result of foreign material blockage of the oil pickup tube.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8948T · no longer on the register · serial 52848
- 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 during cruise flight, he felt a “significant shake” in the airplane and noticed that the engine was losing power. He initiated a precautionary landing to a nearby road. During the descent, the engine failed completely, and despite the pilot’s attempts to restart, the propeller would not rotate. Subsequently, the pilot landed on an unoccupied road. During the landing roll the airplane encountered a ditch and nosed over, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, rudder and both wings. Examination of the engine revealed that the number one and two connecting rods separated from the engine crankshaft and exhibited thermal and mechanical damage, consistent with oil starvation. The forward, intermediate, and rear main bearings exhibited signatures consistent with oil starvation. Fragments of the connecting rod bearings were located within the oil sump along with portions of what appeared to be paper towel material. The oil pickup tube was intact and undamaged. The paper-towel-like material was also observed around the oil pickup tube screen and inlet port which restricted the oil flow within the engine. No additional anomalies were noted with the engine. The pilot reported that the engine had accumulated a total time in service of 3,039 hours, with 993 since last overhaul.
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 (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 96 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,753 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2009; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Reno NV at 10:15 pm
- Destination: Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from RNO, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.