Cessna 182E accident near Taplin, West Virginia, July 17, 1982
On July 17, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182E, registered N9245X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taplin, West Virginia (Mcdonald Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Taplin, West Virginia · Mcdonald Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N9245X · registry record · serial 18253645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SOD RUNWAY HAD JUST BEEN MOWED. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE LEFT WHEEL PANT BECAME FILLED WITH CUT GRASS AND LOCKED THE WHEEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WING CONTACTED LOW TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY WHICH CAUSED THE PLANE TO TURN FURTHER LEFT. THE NOSEWHEEL THEN DROPPED INTO A RUT/STREAM AND THE PLANE TIPPED OVER ONTO THE RIGHT WING.
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: 600 hours in all; 416 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,439 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: 194 Taplin WV at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 194 Taplin WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 194°F (90°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.