Cessna 182B accident near Colville, Washington, April 23, 2011
On April 23, 2011 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N8435T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Colville, Washington (Colville Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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
The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- April 23, 2011 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colville, Washington · Colville Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8435T · registry record · serial 52335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the pilot raised the landing gear and flaps and manually manipulated the turbocharger. As he was adjusting the turbocharger, the engine power reduced to idle, surged to full power, and then reduced back to idle. To avoid obstacles at the end of the runway, the pilot pushed the flight controls forward and landed the airplane on the remaining runway. During the hard landing, the amphibious landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine and related systems revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was found on board the airplane, and no evidence of fuel contamination was found. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2010; 30 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TIO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 63S Colville WA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 63S Colville WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,695 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DEW, 39 miles away
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.