Cessna 182P accident near Lake Wales, Florida, May 2, 2001
On May 2, 2001 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N1491S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (Lake Wales Chalet Suzane airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of flight controls during a bounced landing, and subsequent collision with the ground. A factor of the collision is the rough and uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2001 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Lake Wales Chalet Suzane · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1491S · no longer on the register · serial 18265038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on final approach to land when the pilot experienced a strong crosswind. Upon landing the airplane bounced on the runway, the nose of the airplane impacted the ground and the airplane flipped inverted.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 10, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2001; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: X25 Chalet Suzane FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 pm from LAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.