Cessna 182P N1986M accident near Kewanee, Illinois

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to initiate a visual night flight without recent night flight experience and his failure to maintain altitude during departure.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that on the inbound flight he had to divert to an alternate airport due to adverse weather at his intended destination. After picking up a passenger he departed the alternate airport to the east and the airplane crashed into a farm field about 0.5 miles south of the airport on a westerly heading. The pilot reported that the sky was clear and visibility was 3 to 4 miles. Weather reports for nearby airports listed visibilities between 3 and 5 miles. The flight was initiated and the accident occurred at night. The pilot's most recent night flight was more than 2 years before the accident flight. The recent flight experience requirements of 14 Code of Federal Regulations 61.57 state that, in order to act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers during night flight, the pilot must have made at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no preimpact defects with regard to the airplane, its engine, or control system.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10FA057 for the full record.