Cessna 182L accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, December 16, 2003
On December 16, 2003 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3191R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Mc Ghee Tyson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Wind gust was a factor
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2003 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Mc Ghee Tyson · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3191R · registry record · serial 18258591
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being flown to a nearby airport for an annual inspection. Upon arriving at the destination airport , the pilot checked the local weather, and discovered that the winds were 230-degrees at 16 knots gusting to 24 knots. The airport information revealed that there was a wind shear alert in effect also. The pilot stated that the flight was vectored to runway 23R, and while on the approach to land the flight encountered turbulent weather conditions. During the landing flare, the flight encountered a wind gust, and the airplane climbed several feet higher above the ground. The airplane was then slammed onto the runway and bounced several times. The pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp without further incident. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine firewall was buckled.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 401 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,417.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2002; 207.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDKS Knoxville TN at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KTYS Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23R, 9,005 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from TYS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.