Cessna 182D accident near Crescent Mills, California, May 18, 2018
On May 18, 2018 at about 3:09 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 182D, registered N9163X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Crescent Mills, California. 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
A total loss of engine power due to the development of carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2018 · about 3:09 pm local time
- Place
- Crescent Mills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182D, built 1961 · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N9163X · no longer on the register · serial 18253563
- 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 when he arrived in the vicinity of the destination airport, there was fog in the valley where the airport was located, and he began circling the airplane at a low engine power setting. The engine subsequently lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a river, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The atmospheric conditions present in the area at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at glide power settings which likely resulted in the loss of engine power.
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
- Fuel related during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 84 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 22, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2018; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 3,795 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O85 Redding CA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 2O1 Quincy CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from KSVE, 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 11, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Email - Weather Study | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo - Right Wing Damage | 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.