Cessna 182L accident near Eatonton, Georgia, July 22, 2006
On July 22, 2006 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3415R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eatonton, Georgia (Deerfield Landing). It was an instructional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The CFI's failure to initiate a go-around when he noticed the flight was high during approach resulting in the flight landing long, overrunning the runway , and colliding with trees. Factors in the accident were a wet runway and a tailwind for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2006 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Eatonton, Georgia · Deerfield Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3415R · no longer on the register · serial 182-58715
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), while approaching Baldwin County, Georgia, from the north, Atlanta Approach Control gave warning that there were indications of heavy rain over Milledgeville, Georgia, their intended destination. The CFI stated that they "were in VFR conditions at the time, and could tell there was a storm in the general direction of the airport." As they got closer to the airport, it was apparent that they would not be able to land. The CFI stated that they cancelled their IFR clearance and diverted to Deerfield Landing Airport, a privately owned airport with a grass strip. The student was flying the airplane and was having trouble descending and flying the pattern. On final, seeing that they were too high, the CFI took over the flying duties, and made a full flap landing. The CFI stated that "they were landing long and would need maximum braking effort, I retracted the flaps. The brakes did not seem to have any effect. Unable to stop before running out of runway, we hit trees at the end of the runway." The CFI further stated, "in the post-accident evaluation, I realized that I should have noticed the tailwind effects while on final. Further, I should have realized that with rain in the area no doubt the grass was wet, and therefore slippery. But the genesis of the problem was that I attempted to land out of a bad pattern. A go-around with a better pattern would have been the correct response to the situation." Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the right wing substantially damaged on the leading edge at the attach point of the wing strut, and wrinkling of the empennage forward of the vertical stabilizer. There were no mechanical problems discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,765 hours in all; 802 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 4,765 as pilot in command; 2,866 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,922 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6V3 Richlands VA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MLJ Milledeville GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from AHN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.