I am researching a Cessna 182, N42662. California records shows that it crashed Dec. 24, 1969. I put N42662 on the internet and that same number shows that the plane is located in Midland, Texas and that it was manufactured in 1968 and that it was certified to fly in 2011. If a plane crashes is that number reissued to another Cessna? I am researching this for my nephew who's grandfather died when the plane above crashed in Alpine, California.

Crash Location as described by : http://www.1af.acc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100208-032.pdf

As found on Google Earth, it appears to have crashed north of Interstate 8 and east of Highway 67 between San Diego Country Estates and Alpine, in the mountains west of a lake known as El Capitan Reservoir, near Rock Mountain, at the below coordinates

32 56N 116 48W December 24, 1969 Cessna 182 N42622 White/Blue

I believe if the registration is not reserved by the owner or renewed and it expires, the FAA may register the number to another plane, I have found that they usually list the prior aircraft information, but not this time. According to the FAA site, the current 182 had the certificate issued on 06/25/2009, and they wait until 5 yrs have passed.

Corrected and thanks for the info. I guess I was trying to type too fast

Walt

Hi

The only real sure way to know is to have the serial number of the aircraft, that was crashed and then compare to the Cessna 182 you found in Texas. There is also that chance that the aircraft was rebuilt after the insurance company settled the claim.

If you need any help give me shout and I will try to help.

Another thing Just came to mind if that was the original N number registration, typically Cessna was assigned numbers in 100 lot blocks consecutively unless that number was already in use.

Hope this helps.

Floyd

The Cessna that's in Texas was built in 1968. The plane that that my nephew's father was flying crashed in 1969. Would the plane in Texas get it's N number when it was built in 1968 and not be able able to change that number?

Clint

The 182 in Texas was also built in 1968. I looked at some serial numbers and N number registrations by 3 planes either way it looks to me like Cessna could not reserve a block of 100 N registrations at that time. There Piper J3 Cubs on each side of that N Number. The serial number search shows one Aircraft deregistered on one side of that number. I am betting that the aircraft was rebuilt.

I am going to try and find the aircraft on the NTSB website and see if it has a serial number listed that will answer many questions as to the aircraft's fate.

N number registrations can be changed if the owner wants, but first that registration mark must be available. You are allowed up to 5 digits with the following combinations. Typically due to costs most aircraft are registered for life with its first registration mark, unless it is in for a new paint job.

N1F N1FT N12FT N123FT N1234FT N12345 N1234F

Floyd

If you want to talk about this give me a PM and I will give you my number.

The NTSB report is at:

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=4913

It gives the registration of the Cessna 182 that crashed as N42622 not N42662. It also says that the aircraft was destroyed, so unlikely that it is still extant today.

As an aside, the current N42622 is a homebuld (Bushby Mustang).

Having established that the crashed aircraft was registration N42622

I looked at adjacent Cessna registrations that have survived - all are 1968 built Cessna 182L Skylanes

N42623 c/n 18259110

N42624 c/n 18259111

N42625 c/n 18259112

N42627 c/n 18259114

from those sequences - its a fair quess that N42622 that crashed - was c/n 18259109

Terry Fletcher