Cessna 182 accident near Aberdeen, Idaho, May 27, 2018
On May 27, 2018 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1956 Cessna 182, registered N5700B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Aberdeen, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2018 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 UNDESIGNAT, built 1956 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5700B · no longer on the register · serial 33700
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country flight. During the flight, the airplane encountered light drizzle and reduced visibility. After continuing for a few minutes in these conditions while about 2,000 ft above ground level, the pilot decided to initiate a right turn and divert from his original destination. As the airplane exited the turn, the engine “stuttered” a few times and eventually lost power. Despite the pilot's attempts to restore engine power, during which he did not apply carburetor heat, the engine would only run roughly and inconsistently. He then decided to divert to another airport that was closer to the airplane’s position. As he was about to reattempt to restore engine power, the engine developed partial power; however, it was insufficient to sustain flight. Realizing the airplane could not reach the airport, he chose to conduct an emergency landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the main landing gear dug into dirt, and the nosewheel then hit the ground hard and collapsed. Subsequently, the nose dug into dirt, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions that existed around the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. Therefore, it is likely the engine lost power due to the accumulation of carburetor ice, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat.
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 enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (cruise)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 383 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 317 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,551 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTS Reno NV at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Blackfoot ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:18 pm from PIH, 9 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 10, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Airframe and Engine Examination Summary Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.