Cessna 182A accident near Louisburg, North Carolina, July 25, 1982
On July 25, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N5188D, was destroyed in an accident near Louisburg, North Carolina (Franklin County airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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 25, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Louisburg, North Carolina · Franklin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N5188D · no longer on the register · serial 18251288
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE TAKEOFF ROLL AS BEING UNUSUALLY LONG. THE ACFT NEVER CLIMBED MUCH ABOVE 100-200 FT AGL, & STRUCK TREES 1/2 MI OFF THE END OF THE RWY. THE FLAPS WERE OBSERVED UP DURING TAKEOFF. NORMAL TAKEOFF FLAP SETTING USED BY THE CLUB FOR CARRYING JUMPERS IS 10 DEG. THE ACFT WAS 166 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT & THE CG WAS BEYOND THE AFT LIMIT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FT. THE PLT HAD NEVER FLOWN A C-182 OR A CONSTANT SPEED PROPELLER EQUIPPED ACFT PRIOR TO HIS CHECKOUT WITH THE PARACHUTE CLUB THE WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD CARRIED ANY JUMPERS. THE PLT HAD AGREED TO FLY FOR THE CLUB FOR NO COMPENSATION OTHER THAN TO BUILD FLT TIME.
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: 129 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,828 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Franklin County
The flight
- Departed from: LFN Louisburg NC at 2:30 pm
- Destination: LFN Louisburg NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,650 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 189°F (87°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.