Cessna 182A accident near Dublin, Virginia, December 30, 1984
On December 30, 1984 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4963D, was destroyed in an accident near Dublin, Virginia (New River Valley airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 30, 1984 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Dublin, Virginia · New River Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4963D · no longer on the register · serial 51063
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DROPPING THE PARACHUTIST, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO FLY EASTWARD OVER THE DZ, MAKE A LEFT 180 TURN, LINE UP ON THE PARKED VAN ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AND DESCEND TO A LOW ALTIUDE. WITNESSES ESTIMATED THE ALTITUDE AT FROM 10 T0 30 FT AGL. THE VAN WAS PARKED ON A RIDGE ACROSS THE FLT PATH. THE ACFT MADE A LOW ALT-HIGH SPEED RUN TOWARD THE VAN. JUST BEFORE STRIKING THE VAN WITH THE LDG GEAR, THE ACFT SEEMED TO DUCK UNDER A LOW POWER LINE IN ITS PATH.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSK Dublin VA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BLF, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.