Cessna 182L accident near Weyers Cave, Virginia, February 3, 1983
On February 3, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3440R, was destroyed in an accident near Weyers Cave, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- February 3, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weyers Cave, Virginia · Shenandoah Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3440R · no longer on the register · serial 18258740
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AN INSTRUCTORWAS INVITED ON THE EXTENDED CROSS-COUNTRY TO HELP THE PILOT WHO ALSO HAD NOT FLOWN FOR SOME TIME. DURING THE PRE-FLIGHT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC WHO HAD JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE ACFT WAS CALLED OVER TO HELP DRAIN THE WATER. THE MECHANIC DRAINED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE THE FUEL WAS FREE OF WATER. THE LEFT TANK CAP ALSO WAS FOUND TO NEED A NEW SEAL AND WAS TAPED UNTIL THEY COULD GET A SEAL. THE ACFT HAD TO BE JUMP-STARTED. AFTER STARTING THEY DECIDED TO USE ALL 6000 FT OF RUNWAY 22 FOR TAKEOFF. DURING TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BEGAN TO CUT OUT WHEN IT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 100-200 FEET IN THE AIR, REGAINED POWER MOMENTARILY AND STOPPED. THE ACFT TURNED LEFT, LANDED ON A SLOPING FIELD AND CAREENED DOWN INTO A CREEK BED. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE HALF SUBMERGED. TWO OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED. ONE OF THE TWO DROWNED IN THE CREEK.
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: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,770 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 1983; 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
- Destination: ROA Roanoke VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.