Cessna R182 accident near Pennington Gap, Virginia, December 24, 1983
On December 24, 1983 at about 3:35 am local time, a Cessna R182, registered N736NJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pennington Gap, Virginia (Lee County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- December 24, 1983 · about 3:35 am local time
- Place
- Pennington Gap, Virginia · Lee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N736NJ · registry record · serial R18200746
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENROUTE AT 7,000 FT MSL THE ACFT STARTED PICKING UP HEAVY ICE. THE PLT MAKE A 180 DEG TURN & DESCENDED TO 6,000 FT. HE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE GROUND THROUGH BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS. UPON SIGHTING LEE COUNTY ARPT THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. ACCORDING TO THE PLT THE ACFT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP FLYING BY THIS TIME & HE HAD NO FORWARD VISIBILITY DUE TO ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE ACFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED & WENT OFF THE RWY COMING TO REST INVERTED. THEREWAS ABOUT 1 INCH OF ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD, WINGS, FIN & DORSAL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,758 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,738 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1983; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3CSD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arrowhead Airways, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SDF Louisville KY at 1:52 am
- Destination: HKY Hickory NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 2,250 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°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.