Cessna T182T accident near Crescent City, California, January 31, 2021
On January 31, 2021 at about 7:44 pm local time, a 2012 Cessna T182T, registered N291FR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Crescent City, California. It was an instructional 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
The partial loss of engine power due to the failure of both magneto capacitors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2021 · about 7:44 pm local time
- Place
- Crescent City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T, built 2012 · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N291FR · registry record · serial T18209082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor noticed a flashing red turbine inlet temperature (TIT) warning light during the flight. He enrichened the fuel mixture, which returned the TIT to normal. Shortly after, the engine began to run rough. The flight instructor switched to the left magneto and the engine lost power. He then switched to the right magneto and the engine continued to run rough. He switched back to both magnetos and the engine continued to run rough. The flight instructor then adjusted the mixture and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. Despite his actions, he was unable to get the engine to operate at a power setting sufficient to maintain altitude. The flight instructor located an open field and initiated a forced landing. The airplane landed in marshland and nosed over during the landing. The postaccident examination of the engine revealed excessive gap on all sparkplugs and two of the sparkplug electrodes were fouled. The magnetos would not produce spark and had corrosion on their internal components. It was also noted that the pressurized magnetos did not have a moisture trap or filter installed. The magnetos were sent to a facility for further examination, which revealed deformities on both magneto point assembly contact areas and the failure of both magneto capacitors during testing. The failure of the capacitors likely resulted in the deformities on the points surface contact areas resulting in the magnetos not producing sufficient spark for normal operation.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 37,517 hours in all; 20,000 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 35,419 as pilot in command; 25,809 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 389 hours in all; 202 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 30, 2019
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,787 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 2020; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 1,787 hours total
- Operator: Morey'S West Coast Adventures, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KMFR Medford OR at 6:49 pm
- Destination: KCEC Crescent City CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 175° at 19 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KCEC, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCEC 311956Z AUTO 16019G32KT 8SM -RA BKN032 OVC100 11/09 A2996 RMK AO2 PK WND 15035/1901 SLP145 P0002 T01110089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 5, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Records-excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Followup Engine Examination-notes | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Component Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | 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.