Cessna 182M accident near Brunswick, Georgia, July 2, 2002
On July 2, 2002 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N71785, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brunswick, Georgia (Malcolm Mckinnon Brunswick airport). 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a runway sign. A factor was the pilot's inadvertent application of the right brake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2002 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brunswick, Georgia · Malcolm Mckinnon Brunswick · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N71785 · registry record · serial 18259756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll, the pilot inadvertently applied the right brake when attempting to apply the right rudder to correct for wind conditions. The airplane veered to the right, rolled off the runway and struck a runway marker before directional control was regained. The pilot reported no mechanical defect or malfunction prior to the collision. Examination of the wreckage revealed the right horizontal stabilizer was damaged, the empennage displayed wrinkling from the rear window aft to the tail, and the airframe was buckled under the left horizontal stabilizer.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 186 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,153.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2002; 20.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: SSI Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,421 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from SSI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL02LA157.